Stepanakert Resident Sargis Galstyan Recruited and Engaged in Espionage on Behalf of Azerbaijani Special Services: Investigative Committee

The preliminary investigation into the apparent case of espionage and recruitment by foreign state special services has concluded, impacting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Republic of Armenia. The Chief Directorate for the Investigation of Crimes Against the State, Constitutional Order, and Public Safety of the RA Investigative Committee, in active and effective collaboration with relevant divisions of the RA National Security Service, conducted extensive investigative and other procedural actions, resulting in substantial factual evidence.

It has been established that S. Galstyan, a resident of Stepanakert, held various positions from 2018 to 2023 in Artsakh, notably serving as the Deputy Head of the Administration of Shushi Region, Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Defense, Youth, Sports, and Tourism, Deputy Chief of Staff of the Ministry of Education, Science, Culture, and Sports, and later as Deputy Chief of Staff to the President of the Republic of Artsakh. Being aware of the military situation and the socio-psychological state of the population in Artsakh, in November 2020, he established contact with an individual working in the foreign state’s special intelligence service.

After receiving an assignment to engage in espionage, S. Galstyan agreed and was subsequently recruited by that foreign intelligence officer, who assigned him the alias 'Sarkhan'. Following this, from 2020 to 2023, under the direction of that foreign intelligence officer, he collected and transmitted information to an employee of Azerbaijani special services regarding the population of Artsakh, their sentiments, the positions of representatives of the Armenian and Artsakh authorities concerning the issue of Artsakh, possible military support from Armenia during the September 2023 events, information on the availability of necessary food and other material resources for the needs of the population, and potential resistance in case of armed attack, thus committing espionage.

After the departure of the Armenian population from Artsakh in September 2023, S. Galstyan, having received a job offer from the aforementioned foreign intelligence officer in Stepanakert, remained in the city with his wife, where they continued their criminal activities by providing further information they had access to regarding the Armenian population to foreign intelligence services. He was arrested immediately after moving to the territory of the Republic of Armenia.

Based on sufficient evidence collected, S. Galstyan has been charged under part 1 of Article 424 of the RA Criminal Code. Pre-trial detention has been applied as a measure of restraint. The part of the criminal proceedings concerning S. Galstyan has been separated and sent to the supervising prosecutor for approval and forwarding to court.