VIDEO: NSS Prevents Attempt on Prime Minister's Life and Seizure of Government Powers

The National Security Service of the Republic, committed to ensuring public and state security, along with the constitutional order and both internal and external security of the state, has prevented, through a series of operational-investigative measures, the preparation phase of a crime involving the planned assassination of a public official by a group of individuals in preliminary agreement, the illegal seizure of the powers of the Government of Armenia through violence, and the illegal acquisition and storage of weapons, ammunition, and explosives by that group for that purpose.

Specifically, resident A.M. from the Syunik region, holding anti-government views and disagreeing with the internal and external policies conducted by the Government of the Republic of Armenia and its Prime Minister, exploited the availability of arms and ammunition in the conflict zone resulting from the military actions unleashed against the Republic of Artsakh on September 27, 2020. In agreement with a group of individuals, he illegally transported and stored a large quantity of weapons, ammunition, explosives, and explosive devices in one of his properties located in Sisian, Syunik region.

Moreover, during and immediately after the military actions that began on September 27, 2020, A.M. reached agreements with leaders of parties active in Armenia and Artsakh, politically influential figures with anti-government views, and their associates to use the illegally possessed arms and ammunition as tools to carry out violence dangerous to life or health, with the aim of unlawfully taking the life of a public official, specifically to terminate the activities of the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, as well as to seize the powers of the Government of Armenia through illegal means not provided for in the Constitution, even discussing potential candidates to replace the Prime Minister.

As a result, A.M. and several political figures with anti-government views, leading parties operating in Armenia and Artsakh, along with their associates, have acquired means and tools for committing criminal acts and deliberately created other conditions for preparing the assassination of a public official and the usurpation of power. However, their actions were disrupted and prevented by the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia due to circumstances beyond their control.

Several individuals have been arrested based on direct suspicions of committing these criminal acts, including A.V., the leader of the “Fatherland” party, V.B., a former member of Parliament and leader of the Republican Party faction, A.A., a member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation, as well as A.M., commander of the Sisian volunteer detachment. Operational-investigative and relevant investigative measures are ongoing to identify other members of the group and to prevent, interrupt, and neutralize their criminal activities.

It should be noted that during the investigation of the criminal case, as a result of urgent investigative actions, including more than ten searches, significant amounts of weapons and ammunition were discovered and seized from the residences or properties belonging to the suspects. Among the items confiscated were 3 7.62 mm caliber PK type machine guns, one RPK-74 type 5.45 mm caliber light machine gun, 2 anti-tank grenade launchers with optical devices, 3 pistols, 14 rifles with optical devices, 9 boxes of 5.45 mm caliber bullets each containing 2160 rounds, 5 boxes of 7.62 mm caliber bullets, 233 7.62 caliber bullets, 11 detonators/capsules, 8 electric detonators, 1 grenade detonator, 13 mechanical detonators, 1 reel of gunpowder fuse, 2 RGDs type grenades, 3 hand grenade detonators, 1 F-1 type grenade, and 1 anti-tank grenade core, among many other weapons and ammunition, which those involved in this case have had thorough discussions about regarding their use and purpose.

The National Security Service urges to abstain from unacceptable actions that destabilize the internal situation of the state and artificially escalate the domestic political situation, to demonstrate high civic responsibility and lawful behavior, not to yield to provocations, and thereby not to endanger the internal and external security of the country. It warns that it will decisively neutralize any kind of attack against statehood and constitutional order.

At the same time, the National Security Service also expects broad public participation in this process—reporting to state authorities any known information about criminal manifestations against statehood and constitutional order, for the benefit of the sovereignty of the Republic of Armenia, and its internal and external security, reminding that regardless of political views, these are supreme values.