At 4:40 a.m. on October 10, Armenia’s police received a call reporting masked intruders entering several rooms at a hotel on Keru Street in Yerevan, where foreign nationals were staying on a rental basis.
A criminal police team from the Yerevan City Department was immediately dispatched to the location.
It was determined that around 4:20 a.m., unknown individuals dressed in police uniforms and wearing masks entered multiple rooms at the hotel. Threatening guests with weapons—and in some cases tying them up—they stole mobile phones and cash before fleeing.
A criminal case was launched by the Investigative Division of Arabkir District on charges of armed robbery with unlawful entry into a residence.
Officers from the property crimes unit of Yerevan’s criminal police later discovered four mobile phones, a pneumatic pistol, masks, and gloves near the crime scene.
Subsequent joint operations with the General Department of Criminal Police revealed that nine men were involved in the robbery. One of the suspects, a 41-year-old resident of Frik Street in Yerevan, was identified along with eight foreign nationals.
The Yerevan suspect was arrested on the evening of October 10. The following morning, several 38-year-old foreign suspects were also detained.
Four additional foreign nationals were caught on October 11 at the Meghri border checkpoint.
Efforts are ongoing to locate the remaining two suspects.
The arrested individuals have been turned over to the investigative authorities. Searches recovered items identified as stolen, including tablets, mobile phones, and money.
Authorities continue to investigate all circumstances of the crime and are working to hold all involved parties accountable.
