What we talked about:
- The concept of “thieves-in-law,” its structure, unwritten laws and network of criminal institutions.
- Armenia’s government has drafted a bill to fight against this criminal underworld
- Historical roots of thieves in law in the Soviet Union: A time period when these crime bosses were called in to keep “order” thus giving them “wings” and legitimacy.
- Police usually cooperate with thieves-in-law.
- Thieves-in-law known to support politicians and political institutions
- Need for a change in people’s mentality; even today, many people prefer to ask for help or solve issues through thieves-in-law rather than through the police or the criminal justice system.
- The issue is widespread in Armenia.
