Armen Sarkisyan, the founder of the Donetsk-based ArBat battalion and head of the DNR Boxing Federation, could have been under surveillance for a long time, a law enforcement source told Izvestia. He was killed on February 3 in an explosion in the Moscow housing estate "Alye Parusa". Shortly before the tragedy , Sarkisyan's guards noticed unknown people following the man by car along his usual route. On the day of the explosion, he changed his schedule and left home much later than usual. However, this did not keep him safe. The explosion occurred when Sarkisyan, accompanied by three bodyguards, left the elevator. Why the deceased was being hunted and who may be behind the high-profile assassination attempt - in our material.
Why Sargsyan was the target of the assassination attempt
Armen Sargsyan, who died on February 3 in an explosion in the elite residential complex "Alye Parusa", for several days before the tragedy was the object of surveillance, a source in law enforcement agencies told "Izvestia".
According to him, the guards of the deceased recently noticed two suspicious men in a used foreign car, who drove into the territory of the Veshki Banya bathhouse, which Armen Sargsyan regularly visited.
- Realizing that the guards had noticed them, the men quickly drank coffee and fled. On the day of the explosion, Sargsyan changed his usual schedule and left home much later than usual. But that didn't keep him safe. So, the fact of surveillance is confirmed: the explosive device was detonated when he left the elevator accompanied by security guards," the source said.
Head of the Boxing Federation of the DNR Armen Sarkisyan
Izvestia's interlocutor added that earlier Sargsyan received regular threats from Ukraine, where he is listed in the "Peacemaker" database and is wanted. There was even a bounty on his head. The reason for this was that in 2022 Sargsyan founded the ArBat battalion in Donetsk, an Armenian special-purpose unit that is part of the Russian Defense Ministry's BARS project volunteer assault corps and actively participates in combat operations during the SDF. The battalion's strength, according to various estimates, reaches up to 500 fighters.
The homemade bomb was placed in the lobby of a residential building and detonated at 10am. Its power amounted to about 1 kilogram of TNT equivalent, operational services said. Moreover, the explosive device was planted directly on the day of the attack - in the morning of February 3, law enforcement officials said.
Now the investigation is looking for a man of 35-45 years old, who was recorded by CCTV cameras. The Investigative Committee (IC) opened a criminal case on attempted murder of two or more persons, murder by common dangerous method and illegal trafficking of weapons.
- At the moment, operational-search activities are being carried out to identify the person involved in the commission of this crime," the Investigative Committee said.
The video, published by the Investigative Committee, shows that the ceiling and floor on the first floor of the residential building were partially destroyed, as well as the doors were broken.
Armen Sargsyan's left leg was torn off in the explosion and he was urgently hospitalized. He died of his injuries in the hospital without regaining consciousness. One more person died. According to preliminary data, it was one of Sarkisyan's guards , his identity is being established.
Three more victims were hospitalized. Among them are two of Sarkisyan's guards: Oleg Kaspirovich received a severe contusion and multiple shrapnel wounds to the head and neck, and 41-year-old Sergei Shkryabatovsky - a fracture of the tibia with severe arterial bleeding. Shkryabatovsky's wife, Viktoria Gamova, told Izvestia that her husband was in stable condition in intensive care after surgery. LCD resident Darya Karseladze, 44, has an open wound to her neck and a fractured tibia.
Why the security system did not work
On the website of the housing estate "Alye Sails" it is stated that access to the territory is under round-the-clock control and is carried out by passes. Security checks for compliance with the lists of all arrivals, including, for example, builders who make repairs in the apartments of residents. Any detected violations are reported to the commandant and the dispatcher.
Nevertheless, apass can get and completely unauthorized person - it is enough to sign up to visit any of the facilities located on the territory of the LCD: sports club, restaurant, beauty salon, told "Izvestia" one of the tenants of "Alye Parusy" lawyer Sergei Zhorin.
According to the representative of the private security company "Fobr", which provides security services for various Moscow housing estates, the issue of security in such residential complexes is largely regulated by the residents themselves.
- In order to determine how the access regime will work, who and on what grounds will be allowed in, the tenants must hold a meeting and decide on this point. Their wishes form the basis of the instruction, which is an integral part of cooperation between the housing estate and security guards," he said.
It is possible that the absence of metal detectors, which by definition are not installed in residential entrances, helped to carry the explosive device, believes criminalist Mikhail Ignatov.
- Nevertheless, there is a feeling that the guards could not competently use even the simplest and most accessible mechanism - video cameras, - said the expert. - There are doubts that the bomber and the one who planted the bomb are the same person. The task of the second was to deceive the guards and work quickly, leaving the bomb in an inconspicuous place. However, the suspicious actions were completely ignored by the security guards monitoring the camera footage.
Who will be responsible for the explosion
If the Ukrainian trace in the attempt is confirmed, the case may be reclassified under Article 205 of the Russian Criminal Code "Terrorist act", Oleg Cherkasov, a leading lawyer of the European Legal Service, told Izvestia. It provides for life imprisonment.
According to the lawyer, a separate legal assessment will be given to the companies servicing "Scarlet Sails", and especially those responsible for security. They may be charged with the provision of services that do not meet safety requirements.
- The investigation may uncover fraudulent schemes, for example, according to the documents there was a contract for security, but in fact the service was not provided, - said Oleg Cherkasov. - In this case, the head of the organization may face a criminal case of abuse of power or fraud.
Compensation for the damage for the destroyed lobby of the housing estate is imposed on the person who committed the crime. But if other persons involved are identified, whose inaction could have caused the damage, they may also be charged with compensation, the lawyer summarized.
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