7 27.11.15 - Press conference of Deputy Head of the Investigation Department of the National Security Service (NSS) Mikayel Hambardzumyan Disarmed gang planned major crimes: Security Service November 27, 2015 - 15:05 AMT PanARMENIAN.Net - The armed gang, neutralized in Yerevan on November 25, had no equal in the country in terms of weapons, number of people involved and cruelty, Armenia’s National Security Service official told journalists. Without going into detail, deputy chief of the NSS Investigation Department Mikayel Hambardzumyan said a preliminary investigation into the case is underway. “We are now trying to identify the financial sources,” Hambartsumyan said, adding that the armed gang had specific tasks. “Individual citizens, statesmen and political figures were among the gang’s targets; murders were also planned,” Hambartsumyan noted. Law-enforcers have detained 21 people so far. Armenian security forces arrested 10 people and claimed to have found a big weapons cache on Wednesday, November 25 during a dawn raid on a Yerevan house which they said averted a series of “particularly grave crimes.” The Armenian police and NSS described the detainees, among them four women, as members of a “criminal association” led by Artur Vartanian, a 34-year-old Armenian national who is said to have lived in Spain since 1997. Top stories The number of state universities will be reduced from 23 to 8 by 2030, Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sport Zhanna Andreasyan has said. From September 21 to November 11, a total of 2,820 Russians registered at a place of residence in Armenia, the police has said. The situation on the contact line between Karabakh and Azerbaijan was relatively stable overnight, the Defense Army says. Defense Minister Suren Papikyan has visited the southern Armenian province of Syunik, the Defense Ministry reported on March 18. Partner news | European Parliament to discuss repression in Azerbaijan The European Parliament will discuss repression of civil society in Azerbaijan on April 24 PACE wants concessions from Azerbaijan to accept Baku back A PACE co-rapporteur said that Azerbaijani authorities must make certain concessions so that the country can return to PACE. Cyprus parliament honors Armenian genocide victims Acting House President Zacharias Koulias noted that April 24 marks the “black anniversary” of the Armenian genocide. Armenia PM, France envoy discuss regional matters Issues related to the consistent development of Armenia-France cooperation were discussed. |