In the framework of the criminal case investigated on expert Karen Vardanyan's murder in the Investigative Division of Malatia-Sebastia administrative district of Yerevan Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee two persons were charged with murder by an organized group out of mercenary motives.  
 

It was earlier informed that on March 28, 2016 project coordinator of advisory NGO “Union of Informed Citizens” submitted a written report informing that on March 17, 2016 the expert of the mentioned NGO Karen Vardanyan left his flat at 32, building 31/8, Leningradyan Street, Yerevan to go abroad on business for a week but he has not returned yet.
 

In the result of investigatory measures conducted through investigation of the criminal case initiated on murder it was found that Karen Vardanyan was killed in Sevan after which his body was taken to Yerevan.  
 

Through preliminary investigation sufficient data were obtained on the allegation that K. Vardanyan donated his flat located at 32, building 31/8, Leningradyan Street, Yerevan to 23 year-old G. Zohrabyan for which he was to receive monetary compensation of 20.000 USD or a new flat of about that price. In order not to give the money to Karen Vardanyan G. Zohrabyan offered him to leave for Dubai through Georgia on a tour having intention to kill him on the way to Georgia. G. Zohrabyan told about his intention A. Mihranyan, born in 1973, who had been renting G. Zohrabyan's car «Opel Vecra B» since January, 2016 promising some money for it.
 

According to prior agreement on March 17, 2016 three of them – G. Zohrabyan and K. Vardanyan in a car driven by A. Mihranyan left for Sevan under the pretext to accompany K. Vardanyan to Georgia.
 

Getting to Akhtamar peninsula of Sevan they struck K. Vardanyan on the head with a stone for numerous times. Seeing that he was dead they left him at the back seat of the car, returned to Yerevan, took the body to G. Zohrabyan's garage and buried.
 

On the base of the obtained evidence charge was pressed against A. Mihranyan and G. Zohrabyan according to the Points 7 and 8 of the Part 2 of the Article 104 of RA Criminal Code (murder by an organized group out of mercenary motives). On April 3 the investigator submitted a motion to the court to use detention as a pretrial measure against them. The motion was sufficed. 
 

Preliminary investigation of the criminal case is ongoing.
 

Note; Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.