YEREVAN (Armenpress) — Yerevan police are investigating a kidnapping and assault case involving Narek Sargsyan, the 31-year-old son of Alexander Sargsyan — the younger brother of former President Serzh Sargsyan.
Narek Sargsyan was previously declared wanted as National Security Service agents discovered large amounts of cash, jewelry and stolen valuable paintings. Sargsyan is believed to have deceived a relative of prominent painter Martiros Saryan and stolen 14 paintings of the artist worth $280,000. Artem Poghosyan, Narek’s chief bodyguard, has been arrested amid the ongoing investigation.
The new investigation concerns a 49-year-old who police say was kidnapped last year in Yerevan and beaten because of his business plans. The man planned to open a nightclub.
Police say Sargsyan’s bodyguard invited the man to a meeting in August 2017. The victim was kidnapped from downtown Yerevan by several men and taken to the basement of Narek Sargsyan’s residence.
According to police, the man was beaten, threatened at gunpoint and tortured with a lighter. He was then reportedly relocated to another facility, and again beaten.
