Video: Pretended to be Azerbaijani and Demanded Naked Photos from Women and Girls of the Missing, NSS

The National Security Service of Armenia (NSS) has reported that it has been continuously carrying out its functions to prevent and unveil criminal manifestations in various areas of public life. As a result of operational-investigative measures, it has become known that an adult citizen of the Republic of Armenia, under the alias "Aziz Muradov" on Facebook, established contact with female relatives of servicemen who have gone missing since the outbreak of the war launched by the Republic of Azerbaijan against the Republic of Artsakh on September 27, 2020. Among them was a minor who had not yet reached the age of 16.

Under the pretense of being Azerbaijani, the individual provided false information regarding the whereabouts and conditions of detention of the missing personnel. Subsequently, in exchange for some information regarding the missing individuals, he demanded that the victims send naked photos and videos of themselves via the same social network, threatening to kill or commit violence against their detained relatives if they failed to comply.

According to the NSS, these deliberate actions on social media constitute exploitation of individuals, including a minor, putting them in a state of victimization through threats of violence endangering their lives or health, and exploiting their vulnerability.

In connection with the aforementioned incidents, a criminal case has been initiated in the investigative department of the NSS under the relevant articles of the Armenian Criminal Code. Following sufficient grounds for suspicion of committing the crime, the individual registered under the alias "Aziz Muradov" was apprehended, arrested, and has provided confession statements.

A motion has been submitted to the court for the application of detention as a measure of constraint, which has been granted. During the preliminary investigation, around a dozen victims have been identified, who provided relevant clarifications regarding the circumstances of the incident. Numerous urgent investigative and procedural actions have been conducted, including searches that resulted in the seizure of mobile phones used by the suspect, as well as other items of significance to the criminal case.

The NSS warns that it will continue to take decisive actions within the framework of its authority, utilizing the legal tools at its disposal to prevent possible criminal attacks against individuals in vulnerable situations. It informs that the described criminal acts are classified as particularly serious crimes, for which a punishment of 10 to 12 years of imprisonment is envisaged.

At the same time, the NSS once again urges the public to rely solely on official sources and to refrain from accepting any suspicious offers. In case of such offers, immediate reporting to law enforcement agencies is advised to avoid becoming a victim of fraud or finding themselves in a vulnerable position.