Armenian National Congress: Information that one of criminal group's detainees is connected with opponents of Constitutional reforms is dirty propaganda
The spread information that one of detainees of the criminal group is connected with the opponents of the Constitutional reforms testifies to the beginning of a dirty propaganda by the authorities, Head of the Armenian National Congress Faction and "No" Front headquarters Levon Zurabyan expressed such opinion in a talk with journalists on November 26.
"I do not want to think of versions but the fact is evident that the information that one of the detainees had "No" poster is advertised and this is unacceptable. This is a cheap propaganda trying to connect the negative image of the criminals with the opponents of the Constitutional reforms", Zurabyan noted. He added that he would hail the operation conduced by the National Security Service, if such methods of propaganda were not used.
Head of "New Armenia" headquarters Jirayr Sefilyan in his turn refused to comment on the rumors spread in mass media that the group had close connection to the movement. He announced that he still follows the authorities' activities and will make a thorough statement on this issue in a couple of days.
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. The weapons were stored at one of the private houses in Nork district. On November 25, the joint measures taken with the Armenian Police arms and ammunition, explosives, communication facilities and others were found. As many as 10 people were arrested at the private house. The Investigative Department of the Armenian National Security instituted a criminal case based on Article 223, Parts 1 and 2, and Article 235 Part 3 of the Armenian Criminal Code. Investigation is underway. According to ArmInfo's data, two of the criminal group members managed to escape. By media reports, the group has ties with New Armenia Front that is opposing the Constitutional referendum in the country.