As a result of extensive operative-investigative measures and operational actions carried out by the Economic Security and Countering Corruption Departments of the RA National Security Service, it was found that a group of persons for profit, with the intention of organizing the illegal migration of two or more persons, with the prior agreement of a tourist office operating in the city of Yerevan with the management staff of various agencies and other persons, by distributing roles, organized the illegal departure of a number of RA citizens through transit countries to the United States of America in exchange for up to 25,000 US dollars per person, preparing proper permits to enter and stay in the transit country in the name of the departing persons. to be submitted to competent authorities in order to have a job, false documents regarding the amount of salary, other incomes, death of close relatives of departing persons, which were submitted to competent authorities in the RA and abroad.
During the preliminary investigation, many forged documents, blank document templates, and records of payments made by dozens of citizens who received illegal entry permits to foreign countries were found and taken during the searches carried out in the apartments and cars of the members of the criminal group engaged in the organization of illegal migration, as well as in the offices of travel agencies, notebooks containing photos of passports, foreign entry visas of citizens who left RA as a result of illegal migration, mobile phones containing voice messages about the process of organizing illegal migration.
During the preliminary investigation, 4 persons from the members of the criminal group were arrested on reasonable suspicion and on the basis of the factual data obtained in the criminal proceedings, a decision was made by the supervising prosecutor against them for organizing illegal migration, as well as for preparing and using false documents, assisting in the mentioned crimes in accordance with the articles of the RA Criminal Code, on instigating public criminal prosecution.
The preliminary investigation in the criminal proceedings continues, the necessary investigative actions and operative-investigative measures are being carried out in order to find out all the circumstances of the case, the full range of persons involved in the criminal scheme and to apply criminal legal intervention measures against them.
Note: A person that is suspected or accused of an alleged crime is considered innocent until his/her guilt is proved by a court judgment that has come into legal effect pursuant to the procedure determined by RA Criminal Procedure Code.
