Tuesday, December 1 2015 09:44

 U.S. Embassy in Armenia says it is closely following the detention of 21 individuals in connection with an alleged conspiracy to commit political assassinations and other terrorist acts in Armenia.

"We are not aware that these detentions relate to any threats against American citizens in Armenia at this time. Nonetheless these allegations are serious, and the United States will consider Armenian requests to aid in its investigation," the Embassy told RFE/RL Armenian Service (Azatutyun.am).  According to the source, the United States said on  Monday that it will consider helping Armenian law-enforcement authorities investigate political assassinations and other terrorist attacks in Armenia that were allegedly plotted by 21 people arrested last week.

The U.S. mission also urged the authorities in Yerevan to be "as transparent as possible in reporting on the progress of this investigation."

To note, 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 has been disclosed, the NSS press office reports. The source says that a citizen of Armenia Arthur Vardanyan, native of Yerevan, living in a foreign state, set up and managed a criminal group as soon as he arrived in Yerevan in 2015.  According to preliminary agreement, the group illegally acquired weapons and ammunition. On November 25, the joint measures taken with the Armenian Police found arms and ammunition, explosives, communication facilities and other things. As many as 10 people were arrested, with 11 more arrested later. 

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.