Six members of the armed group accused of preparing a coup in  Armenia, released

ArmInfo. By the decision of  the court of general jurisdiction of Kentron and Nork-Marash  districts of Yerevan on September 17, six members of the armed group  Khachik Avetisyan, Vladimir Arakelyan, Arthur Yeghiazaryan, Vaginak  Stepanyan, Ara Poghosyan and Vahagn Sanazaryan, who were rendered  harmless in Yerevan, were released.

The four defendants were released under the personal guarantee of MPs  Ararat Zurabyan, Napoleon Azizyan, Hovik Agazaryan and Lena Nazaryan.  The measure of restraint in respect of Ara Poghosyan and Vaginak  Stepanyan was changed to a written undertaking not to leave due to  the solicitation of lawyers.  Gevorg Sargsyan and the main accused in  the case - Arthur Vardanyan continue to remain in custody.  Former  Deputy Defense Minister of Armenia Vahan Shirkhanyan was released  earlier. The court granted the lawyer's request for a change in the  measure of restraint, given the guarantee of the deputies of the  parliament from the faction "Exit" Sasun Mikaelyan and Hovik  Agazaryan.

Recall that on November 25, 2015, as a result of the operational work  of the bodies of the National Security Service of Armenia, an  organized criminal group was found that planned a number of serious  crimes in the territory of Armenia. A former resident of Yerevan  living abroad, Arthur Vardanyan, arrived in Armenia in 2015, where he  created and directed the criminal community. By prior agreement, the  group acquired a large number of weapons, which they hid in a house  rented for this purpose in Nork-Marash. On November 25, during a  search carried out jointly with the police, a variety of assault  rifles, pistols, grenade launchers (including fly type), explosives,  explosive devices, military uniforms, bulletproof vests,  communication equipment were found in the indicated location. During  the search, Arthur Vardanyan and 9 members of the group who were  arrested were in the house. The Investigative Directorate of the  National Security Service instituted criminal proceedings under Parts  1 and 2 of Art. 223 (creation and participation in a criminal  community) and part 3 of Art. 235 (illegal acquisition, sale,  storage, transportation or carrying of weapons committed by a group  of persons by prior conspiracy). The investigation is under way.  In  the criminal case, charges were brought against 33 people. Among  arrested persons, ex-deputy minister of defense of Armenia Vahan  Shirkhanyan, detained on December 19, 2015, chairman of the  opposition party "Homeland and honor" Garnik Margaryan, the main  shareholder of the company "Yeghvard factory of sports shoes"  Vladimir Arakelyan. According to the RA National Security Service,  Vahan Shirkhanyan is suspected of complicity in the criminal  community of Artur Vardanyan, in the performance of specific actions  and instructions - he is charged with the acts provided for in Part 2  of Article 223 of the Criminal Code (creation and participation in a  criminal community).