Preliminary investigation into attempted coup case completed - RA  Investigative Committee

ArmInfo. The preliminary investigation established that S.G., E.S., A.M. and other persons whose identities have not yet been established, in prior conspiracy  with the group, were preparing to seize power, that is, they  deliberately created conditions for seizing power in the Republic of  Armenia through the use of violence and the threat of its use to  seize the powers of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the  press service of the Investigative Committee reports.

In September 2024, the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia  reported that it had uncovered a criminal group whose members  recruited citizens and then trained them in the territory of the  Russian Federation for the further seizure of power in the Republic  of Armenia.

It was noted that citizens of the Republic of Armenia S.G, A.E, A.A,  E.S, A.S, as well as former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh A.M, A.S.  and persons whose identities have not yet been established, as part  of a group, carried out preparations for the usurpation of power,  that is, they deliberately created conditions for the seizure of  power in the Republic of Armenia through the use of violence and the  appropriation of government powers.

In particular, according to the National Security Service, the said  persons recruited a number of citizens of the Republic of Armenia and  former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh during 2024 for a reward of  approximately 220,000 Russian rubles per month each, under the  pretext of undergoing three-month training in the Russian Federation  and familiarization with new types of heavy weapons, training in  their use, and then carrying out combat duty after returning to  Armenia, as well as transferring knowledge to other persons.

The recruited persons went in groups to Rostov-on-Don, Russian  Federation, from where they were transported to another location,  where they underwent a biographical data check, including with the  help of a polygraph device, to determine their personal qualities and  political views, connections with law enforcement agencies of  Armenia.

After a preliminary check, the members of the criminal group placed  the recruited persons at a military base led by A.S. called ,  where they were given training in indoor combat, inside a building,  with the types of weapons they were already familiar with. In  addition, they were informed that the purpose of the exercises was to  return to the Republic of Armenia and remove the current government,  thus voicing calls to cleanse and save the Republic of Armenia.

After some of the recruited persons spoke out against these  statements and refused to participate in the armed coup being  prepared in Armenia, S.G. and A.E. went to their location to  eliminate the discontent that had arisen and to complete the criminal  intent of the group, to continue training the recruited persons, and  tried to formally refute the fact of their organization with the aim  of seizing power in the Republic of Armenia. However, some of the  recruited persons refused to participate in the exercises and  returned to the Republic of Armenia, and S.G. and other members of  the criminal group were unable to complete the crime due to  circumstances beyond their control.

The criminal case against S.G., E.S. and A.M. sent with the  indictment to the supervising prosecutor with a motion to approve it  and send it to court for consideration on the merits," the  Investigative Committee said in a statement today.