MFA verifies accuracy of information about "Armenian Mafia" in  Germany and persons involved in it

ArmInfo. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia verifies the accuracy of information about the "Armenian mafia" in the Germany and those involved in it, said on November 6th the Acting Deputy Foreign Minister Karen Nazaryan during  the parliamentary hearings on the draft state budget for 2019.

According to an article published on November 2 in Der Spiegel, for  three years, the police tried to arrest members of the Armenian mafia  in Germany. A strictly classified special operation under the code  name Fight against thieves in law was conducted by the Federal  Criminal Police Office (FCP) together with six land specialized  agencies (LKA). The publication emphasizes that this operation was  one of the largest investigations on organized crime in Germany.  According to the FCP specialists, to whom Der Spiegel refers, the  Armenian mafia in Germany "really exists." Together with other groups  from the Russian- Eurasian criminal circles, it has "substantial  financial" resources and can "threaten the foundations of the rule of  law." However, due to lack of evidence, the results of the  investigations have not yet led to accusations and criminal cases. In  addition, as noted, the topic of crime also affected diplomatic  relations.  According to Der Spiegel and MDR, the ambassador of  Armenia to Germany, Ashot Smbatyan, offered his German investigators  assistance in the fight against the Armenian mafia. However, the FCP  recommended not agreeing to this cooperation, noting that the  investigators do not exclude the connections of thieves in the law  with representatives of state structures of Armenia. Well-known  boxers of Armenian origin Arthur Abraham, Karo Murat and his brother  are also indicated as likely members of the grouping.

According to Nazaryan, the Foreign Ministry is in contact with the  relevant law enforcement agencies of Germany to verify the accuracy  of the information received. "Given the specificity of the issue and  the fact that it mentions names, including diplomats, I do not  consider it appropriate to provide more detailed data," said  Nazaryan. At the same time, he said that after receiving answers to  requests sent to Germany, it would be possible to provide more  detailed data.