Leader of Armenian opposition party detained on suspicion of involvement in criminal group planning terror acts
YEREVAN. Jan 14 (Interfax) - Armenian National Security Service officers have detained the chairman of the opposition Fatherland and Honor party Garnik Margarian on suspicion of involvement in a criminal group the operations of which were stopped at the end of last year.
Key shareholder of the Yegvard Sports Footwear Factory Vladimir Arakelian was also detained, the press service of the National Security Service reported on Thursday.
The detainees are suspected of committing offenses covered by articles on "formation of or participation in a criminal community" punishable by imprisonment for a term of six to 12 years and "illegal acquisition, trading, storage, transportation or possession of arms, ammunition, explosives or explosive devices" of the Armenian Criminal Code, the report says.
"Searches were conducted in the homes of the detainees and at the Yegvard Sports Footwear Factory," the National Security Service reported.
Previously the Armenian media reported quoting a source that a criminal grouping which the Armenian National Security Service had disrupted in November was planning to seize republican state institutions and attack a jet of Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan.
On November 25, officers of the National Security Service jointly with policemen disarmed and detained an armed gang at a house on the outskirts of Yerevan.
Deputy chief of the National Security Service Investigative Directorate Mikael Ambartsumyan told reporters that the detained group was plotting "certain actions" in Yerevan against some citizens, political and public figures, different branches and bodies of power.
On December 19, former Armenian Deputy Defense Minister Vaan Shirkhanyan was arrested and detained. Investigators suspect him of involvement in the criminal community formed by Artur Vardanyan and of activity in favor of this community.
Around 35 members of the criminal community were also arrested.
