Armenian lawmaker issues stark warning to former criminal networks

Armenian National Assembly lawmaker Taron Chakhoyan has accused representatives of former criminal clans of receiving advance information about planned law enforcement searches and using their children to shield themselves.

Chakhoyan, a member of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s Civil Contract faction, made the remarks in comments reported by Armenian media.

“You were informed about these processes (the planned searches — Ed.) in advance. I will say more: your children should not have been at home that day, but after learning that the law enforcement system would conduct a search, you left your children at home,” he said.

Chakhoyan also claimed that those targeted had been informed so far in advance that they were able to prepare and display a poster ahead of the searches.

“You were so well informed about when law enforcement officers would arrive that you even had time to prepare and put up a poster reading ‘Welcome, NSS.’ Because you were waiting, because several days before that you already knew what was going to happen,” he said.

He further warned that law enforcement officers allegedly providing information to the former criminal networks would face severe legal consequences.

“But I am forced to disappoint you on this issue as well: the hands of those who provide you with information will also be cut off — in accordance with the law, of course. Law enforcement officers who provide services to you will face the strictest punishment under the law, and it will no longer be possible to evade responsibility,” Chakhoyan said.

Chakhoyan is a member of Armenia’s National Assembly and represents the ruling Civil Contract parliamentary faction.

By Vafa Guliyeva