On September 18, the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia initiated a criminal case against seven individuals who, according to the investigation, were planning to seize power by force. 

The Investigative Committee reported that this group recruited several Armenian citizens to attend paid three-month training camps in Rostov-on-Don, including at the "ArBat" base, to learn the use of weapons for future combat roles.

Among those charged were five Armenian citizens and two former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh. They were accused of "intentionally creating conditions for the seizure of power in the Republic of Armenia through the use of violence and the threat of violence," having allegedly conspired with others. According to the Investigative Committee, these individuals recruited citizens under the pretext of undergoing a training camp in Russia, where they would be familiarized with new heavy weapons. In exchange for a payment of around EUR 2130 per month, the recruited individuals were supposed to return to Armenia, carry out combat duties, and train others in the use of these weapons, all with the goal of overthrowing the Armenian government.

Yerevan's version of events claims that these "recruited persons" were sent to a military base in Russia called "ArBat" to receive combat training with the intent of returning to Armenia and toppling the current administration. 

The "Arbat" battalion commander, Hayk Gasparyan, responded to these allegations. He argued that his battalion was targeted due to the formation of an allegedly Armenian battalion, Nemesis Group, in Ukraine. Gasparyan explained that the ArBat battalion had existed for a long time, though it only officially announced itself in June 2023. He dismissed the accusations, stating, "This is just a political game – some moves, moments, levers, counterbalances. The Armenian authorities are just trying to distract the people from some of their failures in the political life of the republic, where they have chosen a course that is leading the country to collapse. They are trying to find extreme people, just like accusing Russia of surrendering Karabakh."

Gasparyan further emphasized that most ArBat fighters are Russian citizens and, therefore, are focused on their country's politics. He added, "We have never commented in any way on the Republic of Armenia, or Prime Minister Pashinyan, or anyone else in general who is connected with Armenian politics. Because we are not politicians, we are military people. We are fighting in the interests of the state we live in," he concluded.