Zhirayr Sefilyan, the head of the New Armenia Front campaign headquarters, thinks that most of the armed group members detained by the National Security Service (NSS) are victims.
At today's press conference in Yerevan, Sefilyan said that for many years the authorities have controlled the young people who wanted changes. "I am sure most of the detainees are honest Armenians and it is not the first case when the patriots are controlled," he said, noting that if that group had been so dangerous as the law-enforcers say, they would have detained them much earlier. "This case looks very strange, especially given that the detention was followed by rumors about ties between the group and the New Armenia Front," Sefilyan said, adding that he will come out with a statement.
To note, during a private hearing on November 27, the regular court of Kentron and Nork Marash administrative districts of Yerevan sustained the motion of the National Security Service of Armenia (NSS) to use arrest as a measure of restraint against the gang members detained in Yerevan. It was previously reported that as a result of investigative measures taken by the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia, an organized criminal group intending to commit grave crimes in the territory of Armenia was disclosed in Yerevan on November 25. The NSS Investigative Department has instituted a criminal case based on Article 223 Parts 1 and 2 (creation of a criminal group or participation in a criminal community - imprisonment for 6-10 years), and Article 235 Part 3 (illegal acquisition, sale, keeping, transportation or bearing of weapons, ammunition, explosive compounds or explosive devices - imprisonment for 3-8 years) of the Armenian Criminal Code.