Armed robbery at Yerevan hotel; several arrested

Masked men dressed in police uniforms broke into multiple rooms of a hotel on Kheru Street in Yerevan on October 10, robbing foreign guests of cash and phones before fleeing, police said.

According to senior criminal police officer Davit Babinyan, the assailants entered the hotel at around 4:20 a.m., threatening guests with weapons and tying some up. Four cell phones, an air pistol, masks and gloves were later found nearby. Investigators believe the suspects discarded the items while escaping.

Police identified nine suspects – one a 41-year-old Yerevan resident and the others foreign nationals. The local suspect was arrested later that evening, while four foreigners were detained at the Meghri border checkpoint in southern Armenia early on October 11.

Several stolen items, including phones, tablets and cash, were recovered during searches. Authorities said efforts continue to locate the remaining suspects and fully establish the circumstances of the crime.