Armenpress

ARMENIAN NATIONAL SECURITY SERVICE REVEALS ‘HUGE’ ARMS CACHE

YEREVAN, DECEMBER 29, ARMENPRESS; Officers of the
Armenian National Security Service (NSS) revealed
December 28 a huge cache of illegally kept arms and
ammunition when searching the home of a resident of
Lusarat village in the southern province of Ararat, it
has emerged today.
The National Security Service identified the
resident as Vahan Aroyan, 47, known commonly under his
nickname of ‘Uncle Vanik."
A statement by the NSS said the search was part of
an investigative operation into a case that involves
Zhirayr Sefilian, the leader of a non-governmental
organization in Defense of Liberated Lands and Vartan
Malkhasian of the Fatherland and Honor party. Both men
had been arrested earlier this month and charged with
plotting "to violently overthrow the constitutional
order."
The statement said the NSS officers revealed
various types of weapons-guns, automatic rifles and
machines, grenade cup discharges, a Strella mobile
rocket system, thousands of bullets, mines, grenades
and radio communication devices.
Vahan Aroyan was arrested and a criminal case was
started to investigate the case.
On Wednesday an Armenian court of appeals refused
to rule the release of Zhirayr Sefilian and Vartan
Malkhasian, pending the investigation into their
alleged plans.
Armenia’s National Security Service says both men
set up a clandestine organization, called the Alliance
of Armenian Volunteers, to prepare an armed revolt
against the government during parliamentary elections,
slated for next spring