The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia continues to wage a consistent and effective fight in the direction of detecting, preventing and suppressing the intelligence activities of special services of foreign states directed against the sovereignty, territorial integrity and external security of the Republic of Armenia, during which, thanks to the effective service of the RA Police officers, as well as the vigilance of citizens, foreign citizens were apprehended on suspicion of espionage in the territory of the Republic of Armenia and brought to the National Security Service of RA.

As a result of the relevant measures taken within the framework of the due criminal procedural legal procedure, factual data were obtained on the collection of certain information by foreign citizens on military equipment belonging to the RA Armed Forces, the movement of military equipment, the locations of military units, as well as on persons called up within the framework of the mobilization declared under martial law, their numbers. The factual data obtained at this stage of the investigation were sufficient to consider the suspicion justified, based on which, on October 2, 2020, the mentioned persons were arrested on suspicion of committing crimes under Article 302 of the RA Criminal Code (espionage) and Articles 38-302 of the RA Criminal Code (assistance to espionage by a citizen of RA).

Large-scale operative-search and investigative actions are being taken in the direction of fully disclosing the crime committed, identifying other foreigners and citizens of RA related to this case, and initiating criminal prosecution against them.

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia is consistently carries out fight to prevent, suppress and disclose crimes directed against the foundations of the constitutional order and state security.

The National Security Service of RA counts on also the involvement of the broad segments of the society in this process to provide information that became known to them regarding high treason or espionage to the authorities in the name of the sovereignty, security and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia.

Additional information will be provided as necessary.

Note: the suspect or accused of an alleged crime is considered innocent as long as his guilt is not proven in a manner prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure of RA - by the court decision entered into legal force.