On September 24, the Armenian National Security Service reported that as a result of complex operative-investigative measures and operational actions carried out by the officers of the Armenian National Security Service for the protection of the constitutional order and the fight against terrorism, a case of preparation for overthrowing the government has been uncovered.

As a result of the evidentiary and other procedural actions carried out during the preliminary investigation it was revealed that the members of the NGO "Crusaders of War and Patriotism", S.Kh., K.D., D.T., V.M., M.M., G.N., A.H., as well as A.B., and other persons, having anti-government views, ideological enmity towards the members and the head of the Government of Armenia, made arrangements in advance with each other to seize power by using the weapons and ammunition in their possession as a tool of crime in a way of using violence dangerous to life or health and with the threat of it, in particular, to take over the powers of the Government of the Republic of Armenia in another way not provided for by the Constitution," the report added.

According to the information, "as a result, the members of the criminal group acquired telecommunication devices, phones and other communication jamming devices, means and tools facilitating the commission of the crime, as well as deliberately created other conditions for the direct commission of a crime in preparation for committing a pre-arranged usurpation of power. But due to circumstances beyond their control, they were unable to start the execution of the objective aspect of the crime included in their intention, i.e. the particularly serious crime in preparation was discovered and thwarted by the employees of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia. "

"On the basis of sufficient factual data obtained in the course of the criminal proceedings, eight members of the criminal group were arrested on the basis of reasonable suspicion of committing a crime, public prosecution was initiated and charges were filed under Article 43-419, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia," the report said. "At the same time, searches were carried out at the residences of members of the criminal group and at the workplaces of public organizations, as a result of which firearms, weapons, ammunition, air pistols, body armor, telecommunication devices, computers, notebooks with various notes, documents, etc. were found," the Armenian National Security Service said.

"The investigation is ongoing, operations and investigative measures are being carried out in order to find out the full circumstances of the incident, the full range of persons involved in the criminal group and to apply criminal legal measures against them," it concluded.