168: Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan’s wanted nephew suspected in new crime involving kidnapping and battery

Category
Society

Yerevan police are investigating a kidnapping and assault case involving Narek Sargsyan, the 31 year old son of Alexander Sargsyan – the younger brother of former President Serzh Sargsyan.

Narek Sargsyan was previously declared wanted as National Security Service agents discovered large amounts of cash, jewelry and stolen valuable paintings. Sargsyan is believed to have deceived a relative of prominent painter Martiros Saryan and stolen 14 paintings of the artist worth 280,000 dollars. Artem Poghosyan, Narek’s chief bodyguard, has been arrested amid the ongoing investigation.

The new investigation concerns a 49 year old who police say was kidnapped last year in Yerevan and beaten because of his business plans. The man planned to open a nightclub.

Police say Sargsyan’s bodyguard invited the 49-year-old to a meeting in August of 2017. The victim was kidnapped from downtown Yerevan by several men and taken to the basement of Narek Sargsyan’s residence.

The man was beaten, threatened at gunpoint and tortured with a lighter. He was then relocated to another facility, and again beaten.

Only when assuring that he won’t undertake any business activities concerning nightclubs was the man released. The crime wasn’t reported earlier. Police forwarded the materials to the Prosecutor General’s office for further proceedings.

Artem Poghosyan, 28, the chief bodyguard of former president Serzh Sargsyan’s nephew, is remanded in custody in suspicion of another crime.

Disclaimer: This article was contributed and translated into English by Emil Lazarian. While we strive for quality, the views and accuracy of the content remain the responsibility of the contributor. Please verify all facts independently before reposting or citing.

Direct link to this article: https://www.armenianclub.com/2018/07/18/168-ex-president-serzh-sargsyans-wanted-nephew-suspected-in-new-crime-involving-kidnapping-and-battery/

Emil Lazarian

“I should like to see any power of the world destroy this race, this small tribe of unimportant people, whose wars have all been fought and lost, whose structures have crumbled, literature is unread, music is unheard, and prayers are no more answered. Go ahead, destroy Armenia . See if you can do it. Send them into the desert without bread or water. Burn their homes and churches. Then see if they will not laugh, sing and pray again. For when two of them meet anywhere in the world, see if they will not create a New Armenia.” - WS