How the “Armed Group” was Getting Ready for a Coup and What would Come Next?—Interesting Details
Investigation on the group neutralized in Nork Marash is not finished yet. Mikayel Hambardzumyan, First Deputy Chief of Investigation Department of NSS, told on this reporters today. He stressed that people accused within this criminal case, as considered innocent, as there are no verdicts in force.
In an interview with reporters, photos of proofs have been shown, on which Mikayel Hambardzumyan introduced his comments.
The first photo, according to Mikayel Hambardzumyan, is the photo of the group initiated by Artur Vardanyan, which, pursuant proofs was taken 6 September 2015 in Tsaghkaber village of Spitak region, where Artur Vardanyan’s house is located.
During the investigation, according to Mikayel Hambardzumyan, they succeeded to clarify who those people are, who took a photo with masks, their identity, sources for acquisition of weaponry, as well as purpose for gathering in Tsaghkaber village.
“In particular, the group was in that location from August to September 2015, trained there, learnt to use weapons, studied combat sports. Then, after finishing, they moved to Yerevan and used apartment of Artur Vardanyan’s father-in-law as a gathering place, located on Artsakh street.”
According to Mikayel Hambardzumyan, upon inspection of the apartment in Nork Marash in November 2015, big quantity of weaponry has been detected, which is available on the photos.
The outfit, special battalion symbols, police uniform may be observed on the photo, which the group planned to use during their planned actions.
Mikayel Hambardzumyan said that during the investigation sources of acquisition of uniforms and weaponry, consequences, amount paid for them are known.
“People who sold or allocated weaponry (of course, there are people, who didn’t sell, but allocated weaponry) are under arrest and are charged with corresponding articles,” Mikayel Hambardzumyan said.
Introducing the identified phones, he said people having key role in the group, were keeping secret phones and phone numbers, by which they exclusively contacted one another,
“This was an action directed to group disguising, they thought that way they may conceal their actions, however, availability of phones and phone numbers was known to NSS and during operative actions they have been wiretapped.”
Showing the map of Yerevan, Mikayel Hambardzumyan said it was also found during the inspection,
“Marking was done on the map in handwriting on targets on which it armed attacks were planned to implement. There are marks without crosses as well. They mainly refer to bridges, crossroads in Yerevan, where the group planned to create obstacles during traffic jams, so that people implementing security of their targets weren’t able to protect.”
According to the First Deputy Chief, notebooks, names of group members are introduced on the photo, as well as name of the target, on which exact person should participate:
“As we see, Baghramyan 26 address is marked, which refers to the President’s Office, Constitutional Court, National Assembly, RA Government. “Eiffel” naming refers to H1 TV. Names of people are also mentioned. Moreover, everything has been uncovered by us and charged within the criminal case.”
According to Mikayel Hambardzumyan, group members conducted accounting, which weaponry has been purchased and to which member of the group it was allocated to, nicknames have been implemented, “This speaks of the fact that each group member under our control had appropriate outfit, weapons and ammunition.”
During the investigation lots of videos taken by cameras and phones have been revealed as well.
Handwritten scheme of the building of the Constitutional Court and its facilities are available on the drawing.
On which side of the building cameras are installed, where security officers are, as well as entrances to the building are drawn.
Mikayel Hambardzumyan said they took photos via Google, “Due to computer examination it turned out that group members gathered information about more than 147 people from the political field. It includes all NA MPs, whether representative of opposition or authorities.”
This information contains data on exact politician, his family members, as well as photos of his current address taken by Google, separate files have been made.”
Mikayel Hambardzumyan said the group has taken the video of RA president’s house and its facilities. “The group also tried to control circumstances of operations by the president’s guard, tried to get information to clarify how they are implemented and organized.”
Accordingly, the issue of president’s security is being touched upon. Exactly for this purpose the group members, namely Artur Vardanyan and 2-3 members, were present at the opening ceremony of church in Gyumri on September 24, and secretly filmed the moment the president was there. I might say, Artur Vardanyan, present at the ceremony, was wearing clothes of church choir, to our assessment, not to get noticed. And from this very room in the top, the video has been taken.”
There is a video at the disposal of the investigative body, where Artur Vardanyan is against the background of “Hayots Vahan” organization,
“In the video Artur Vardanyan calls on the country’s population, after the imaginary coup he introduces his programs and gives comments. I must mention that it is planned to broadcast on H1.”
Just from the very start Artur Vardanyan announces that they have brought into life his intention through weapons, together with his group and freedom fighters.
Mikayel Hambardzumyan also introduced a letter in English, dated November 2015. It was planned to sending to all the embassies after that operation; the following day they invite them to “Armenia” hotel to participate in a meeting, during which it’s planned to introduce what’s going on in the country, what purpose is pursued and what programs they have.
Mikayel Hambardzumyan said this is not all, other proofs are available as well, publication of which, he considers inadmissible for the time being.
By Ofelya Hovhannisyan
