Armenia’s Investigative Committee has issued a manhunt for Artur Asatryan, known in the criminal world as “Don Pipo”.

Asatryan was arrested in June 2018, along with ex-General Manvel Grigoryan, after a raid of their Etchmiadzin homes unearthed large amounts of illegal arms and ammunition.

The arrests occurred amidst rival demonstrations in Etchmiadzin pitting opponents and supporters of the town mayor Karen Grigoryan (Manvel Grigoryan’s son) against one another.

 Asatryan is also suspected of kidnapping three individuals who had allegedly plotted to assassinate him a few years ago.

Asatryan was released from pre-trial detention on September 20, 2018, after paying bail of AMD 50 million ($103,640).

In August 2019, an Armenian court allowed Asatryan to leave Armenia for medical treatment.