The RA National Security Service, being faithful to the crucial modus operandi of ensuring the security of society and state, the constitutional order, internal and external security of the state, as a result of the complex operative-search measures undertaken, at the stage of crime preparation prevented cases of the murder of a statesman, the seizure of the powers of the RA Government through the use of violence by a group of persons by prior agreement, as well as detected cases of illegal acquisition, storage for this purpose of weapons, ammunition, explosives by a group of persons.

In particular, a resident of Syunik province A. M., adhering to anti-government views and disagreeing with the foreign and domestic policy pursued by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Prime Minister of the RA, taking advantage of the circumstance of the presence of weapons and ammunition in the conflict zone during military actions unleashed against the Republic of Artsakh on 27 September, 2020, by prior agreement with a group of persons, illegally transported and illegally stored in one of the buildings actually belonging to him, located in the city of Sisian, Syunik province, a large number of weapons, ammunition, explosives and explosive devices

At the same time, the mentioned person, during the beginning of the military actions unleashed on 27 September, 2020 and immediately after them reached an agreement with the leaders of the parties operating in the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh, politicians with anti-government views and their supporters regarding the seizure of power through the use of violence dangerous to life or health, using illegally stored weapons as a weapon of crime and ammunition, in particular, with the aim of terminating the activities of a statesman-the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia- to illegally deliberately deprive the latter of his life and in this way, as well as in another way not provided by the Constitution, to seize the powers of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, even discussing questions about a possible candidate who will replace the Prime Minister of the RA.

As a result, A.M. and the leaders of parties operating in the Republic of Armenia and the Republic of Artsakh, politiciants with anti-government views and their supporters, former high-ranking officials, with a direct intent to commit a crime, obtained means and tools, as well as deliberately created other conditions, thus preparing to murder of a statesman and the seizure of power, however, did not complete their actions due to circumstances beyond their control, namely, the particularly serious crimes being prepared were detected and disrupted by the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia.  

Based on direct suspicion of committing the mentioned criminal acts, a number of persons have been detained, including the head of “Hayrenik (Homeland)” party A.V., a former deputy of the RA National Assembly, head of the Republican Party of Armenia Faction V. B., a member of the “Armenian Revolutionary Federation Dashnaktsutyun” A. A., as well as the commander of the Sisian Volunteer Detachment A. M. Operative-search measures and appropriate investigative and other procedural actions are being taken in the direction of detecting other members of the group and preventing, disrupting and neutralizing their criminal activities.

It should be noted that as a result of urgent investigative actions taken during the preliminary investigation in the criminal case, including more than a dozen searches in the apartments or buildings belonging to the suspects 3 PK (7.62X54) machine guns of 7.62 mm caliber, one RPK-74 light machine gun of 5.45 mm caliber, 2 anti-tank grenade launchers with telescopic sight, 3 assault rifles, 14 rifles with an telescopic sight, 9 boxes with 5.45 mm ammunition, each with 2160 cartridges, 5 boxes with 7.62 mm ammunition, 233 cartridges with 7.62 mm caliber, 11 fuses (capsules), 8 electrical fuses (zapal), 1 grenade fuse, 13 mechanical fuses, 1 Bickford fuse (wick), 2 RGD grenades, 3 hand grenade fuses, 1 F-1 grenade, 1 anti-tank grenade body, 1 TNT cube with a homemade metal frame, 1 electrical detonator, as well as other weapons and ammunition in large quantities were found and confiscated, the use and purpose of which were discussed in detail with the persons involved in this case.

The National Security Service urges to refrain from unacceptable modus operandi of destabilizing the internal situation of the state, artificially aggravating the internal political situation, to show high civic responsibility and law-abiding behavior, not to give in to provocations and thereby not create a treat to the internal and external security of the country, and also warns that it will resolutely neutralize any encroachment on statehoood and the constitutional order.

At the same time, the National Security Service expects also the involvement of the general public in this process to report to the authorities the information that has become known to them about criminal manifestations directed against statehood and the constitutional order, in the name of sovereignty, internal and external security of the Republic of Armenia and reminds that they are the highest values regardless of political views.

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.