11.03.2008 - Source: US Department of State

High-profile killings by unidentified assailants during the year ("Country Report on Human Rights Practices 2007") [ID 22943]

"There were high-profile killings by unidentified assailants during the year. On August 25, an unknown person shot and killed the chief prosecutor of the Lori region, Albert Ghazaryan, who was on his way home. An investigation was ongoing at year's end. On April 2, unidentified assailants attacked Gyumri Mayor Vartan Ghukasyan and his entourage with automatic weapon fire as they returned from Yerevan to Gyumri. Three of the mayor's bodyguards and the driver of one of the two cars died in the attack, and the mayor and his deputy sustained serious injuries. On March 7, authorities arrested a suspect in the September 2006 death of a senior tax official, who was killed by a bomb hidden under the seat of his car. The case was still in progress at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

31.03.2003 - Source: US Department of State

Killings of politicians ("Country Reports on Human Rights Practices - 2002") [#11840],  [ID 3425]

"In February 2001, unknown persons shot and killed Arthur Mnatsakanian, Deputy Chief of Public Affairs of the Customs Department, in his car. The case was suspended during the year pending new information.
In September 2001, a grenade explosion killed Gagik Poghosian, advisor to the Prime Minister and ex-Minister of State Revenues. The case was suspended pending acquisition of new information at year's end."

Document(s): Open document

28.11.2002 - Source: Austrian Centre for Country of Origin and Asylum Research and Documentation

To get remedies against acts by non-state agents and especially the Mafia highly questionable ("8th European Country of Origin Information Seminar Vienna, 28 - 29 June 2002: Final Report - Armenia - co-funded by the EU Odysseus Programme") [#9877],  [ID 3426]

"More specifically, while in theory there is a mechanism to prosecute and bring to justice
perpetrators of organised criminal activities, in practice it is highly questionable whether
levelling charges would actually lead you to getting a remedy against acts by non-state
agents and especially the Mafia. Despite the fact that the Mafia in Armenia is not like the
Mafia in Italy, i.e. it is not some kind of para-state structure, the Mafia would not be able
to act as freely as they currently do if government officials were not involved at all. So
whatever happens that is related to organised crime somehow has a connection to the
government."

Document(s): Arm-cois2002-rep.pdf