Armenia arrests ex-security chief over 1998 deputy defence minister killing

Armenian authorities have arrested Sasun Arushanyan, the former head of security for ex-Karabakh separatist figure Samvel Babayan, in connection with the 1998 assassination of Armenia’s then-Deputy Defence Minister Vahram Khorkhoruni.

The country’s Investigative Committee confirmed Arushanyan’s detention as a suspect in organising the killing, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

Khorkhoruni was shot dead in the early hours of December 10, 1998, outside his home. The killing prompted the formation of a special investigative task force comprising officers from Armenia’s Interior Ministry and National Security Service.

Two other individuals, Artur Arakelyan and Hrayr Narimanyan, are reported to be the alleged perpetrators of the assassination. Authorities allege that S.A. acted out of financial motives, offering $10,000 and $15,000 to his two co-conspirators to carry out the killing.

Following the incident, a criminal case was opened and a joint operational-investigative team composed of officers from Armenia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs and National Security was formed. Despite extensive efforts at the time, the case remained unsolved for 27 years.

By Aghakazim Guliyev