Necessary investigatory and other procedural actions are conducted in the Division of Investigation of Grave Crimes of Yerevan Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee to find out circumstances of extortion in large amount committed by a reporter. The latter was arrested.

Pursuant to initial data, on June 18, 2019 the reporter of “Haykakan Zham” daily visited the working room of a high ranking official of the police, introduced herself as a reporter and told that she had information that the latter was allegedly engaged in entrepreneurial activity and in this relation had unpaid tax liabilities of 41.000.000 AMD. The reporter also told the official that she was going to publish this discreditable information in four media and demanded money in large amount – 800.000 AMD for not publishing it at the same time making a remark that the amount of the required money could be reduced.

On June 19, 2019 at about 16:30 the reporter of “Haykakan Zham” daily, visiting the official’s working room, demanded and received 400.000 AMD by extortion.  Immediately after it, in the result of measures taken by the employees of General Department of Fight against Organized Crime of the RA Police was caught in the same room.

Through inspection of the scene 400.000 AMD received from the official was found in the reporter’s bag.

On June 19, 2019 a criminal case was initiated in General Department of Fight against Organized Crime of the RA Police according to the Point 3.1 of the Part 2 of the Article 182 of RA Criminal Code preliminary investigation of which is conducted in the Division of Investigation of Grave Crimes of Yerevan Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee.

The reporter was arrested on suspicion of committing extortion in large amount from the high ranking official of the police.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing.

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