In the result of large-scale investigative and procedural actions conducted, as well as operative-intelligence measures taken by the RA NSS employees in the course of preliminary investigation investigated in the Department for Investigation of Crimes against Humanity of General Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee, it was found out that on December 10, 1998, S.A., H.N. and A.A., out of mercenary motives, with the organization and co-perpetration of S.A., committed the murder of Vahram Khorkhoruni, the former Deputy Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, as well as illegally procured and kept weapon. 

Particularly, S.A., being a serviceman, out of mercenary motives intended to organize the murder of Vahram Khorkhoruni, the former Deputy Minister of Defense. 

In November-December, 1998, in that regard, S.A. reached agreements with residents of Nagorno-Karabakh, H.N. and A.A. and offered them 10 thousand USD and 15 thousand USD, respectively, to commit murder. 

In order to commit the murder, S.A. procured a homemade barrel and muffler for a "Makarov" pistol from A.N., H.N.’s brother, with whom he was in close relations, which he placed on 9 mm “Makarov” pistol owned and kept by him illegally, which was the instrument of the crime, after which he tested it shooting in a place outside the city, to determine the degree of attenuation of the sound of a shot. Making sure that the muffler did not reduce the sound enough, in order to reduce the powder charge of bullets, with the help of A.N., he dismantled the bullets by separating the bullets from the shells, then reassembled them in a homemade way, as a result of which, traces of technical impact remained on the shells and bullets.

In order to carry out their criminal intention, on December 7, 1998 H.N. and A.A. and on December 8, 1998 S.A. arrived in Yerevan carrying with them the mentioned firearm, which was the instrument of crime. The actions of the criminal group were coordinated and fully planned by S.A., who on December 8 took his accomplices and pointed out the building, where Vahram Khorkhoruni lived. 

On the evening of December 9, 1998, the members of the criminal group acting with prior agreement, met at Republic Square and left for Vahram Khorkhoruni’s residence in a car driven by H.N., where they ambushed waiting for the latter to come out. 
According to the initial role distribution, H.N. waited in the car, and S.A. and A.A. were at the entrance of the building. On December 10, 1998 at about 00:30 when Vahram Khorkhoruni entered the building to go to his apartment, on the first floor stairwell S.A. and A.A. acting as co-performers, complementing each other's actions, with the intent to murder Vahram Khorkhoruni, fired five shots at him from the above-mentioned firearm, kept by them illegally, which had a homemade barrel and muffler that had been converted to fire 9mm pistol cartridges. Three of the shots were fired at his face, and two of them to the regions of the dorsal surface of the chest from the left, as a result of which the latter died on the spot, and the members of the criminal group S.A., A.A. and H.N. immediately left the scene. 

Based on sufficient evidence obtained during the preliminary investigation proving the commitment of the crime public criminal prosecution was initiated against S.A. according to the Point 10 of the Part 2 of the Article 155 and the Part 1 of the Article 335 of RA Criminal Code. 

The latter was arrested. 

The Investigative Committee will issue an official statement on further progress and results of the preliminary investigation of the criminal proceeding. 

At the instruction of the Chairman of the Investigative Committee, the Investigative Committee is currently investigating criminal proceedings initiated in connection with other previously committed murder cases of public resonance.