The court trial on the case of two murders began

The court trial of the criminal case initiated on the case of murdering two subalterns of the Unit N of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation (FSB) began in the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen administrative districts of Yerevan.

On October 23, 2010, the Military Investigation Division of the Investigation Committee adjunct to the General Prosecutor’s Office of the Russian Federation initiated a criminal case on subalterns A. Zakharyan’s and A. Yenokyan’s murder in the rest room of the radio center of the Unit N of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation according to the Article 105, part 2, point “a” of the Criminal Code of the Russian Federation. Taking into consideration that the crime was committed in the territory of Armenia and the murderer is an Armenian citizen, the criminal case was sent to the RA General Prosecutor’s Office. On November 4, 2010 the Prosecutor General of Armenia tasked the further investigation of the case to the Investigation Department of the National Security Service adjunct to the RA Government.

According to the preliminary investigation, in November 2009 a resident of Yerevan M. Bashchkov by putting his apartment in pledge obtained a credit in the sum of 6 000 000 drams from “Unibank” CJSC. M. Bashchkov failed to pay the percents of the credit and as he had other debts as well, in the spring of 2010 he took 20 000 RUB from his army friend, the subaltern of the Unit N of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation A. Zakharyan. Later he returned a part of the debt whereas 150 000 drams remained.

As M. Bashchkov didn’t have any money to return the debt he had a quarrel with A. Zakharyan and planned the latter’s murder. Knowing that on October 23, 2010 A. Zakharyan would be on duty in the radio center of the Unit N of the Federal Security Service of the Russian Federation, M. Bashchkov overcame the technical obstacles of the military unit from 12:30 a.m. to 12:49 a.m., entered the territory of the unit and attacked A. Zakharyan. M. Bashchkov stabbed A. Zakharyan by a piercing and cutting tool and killed him. Then, he killed the subaltern Arthur Yenokyan who tried to help his friend.

Mikhail Bashchkov was charged according to the RA Criminal Code Article 104, part 2, points 1 and 8 (murder of two or more persons out of mercenary motives). The prosecutor who supervised the investigation of the case confirmed the bill of indictment and on October 10, 2011 the case was sent to the Court of First Instance of Erebuni and Nubarashen administrative districts of Yerevan.
Mikhail Bashchkov pleaded partially guilty. The court trial will be held on November 17, 2010.