ARMENPRESS: Authorities investigate alleged assassination plot against Pashinyan after video surfaces showing armed suspects issuing threats

Armenian law enforcement agencies have launched a criminal investigation to identify and apprehend individuals who made death threats in an alleged assassination plot against Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in a video shared online.

The video shows a masked man speaking, while four others—also wearing masks—stand behind him, brandishing what appear to be AKS-74U assault rifles.

The Investigative Committee stated in a press release that the individuals illegally accessed restricted computer network data to share the video during a live broadcast. It said:

“Motivated by hatred and intolerance, and combined with hooligan motives during a live broadcast, they disseminated a video containing a threat that poses a real danger of committing murder against the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, related to his state and political activities and conditioned by his political views.”

In the video, the masked man, addressing Pashinyan, says: “We know where and when you are going… you must answer for your every step.”

A criminal proceeding has been initiated in connection with an alleged assassination plot (conspiracy to commit murder) as well as computer system sabotage and the illegal circulation of firearms and ammunition. An investigation is underway to identify the suspects.

Pashinyan himself responded to the video while campaigning for the June 7 election:

“They have put on masks, as if they are strong men. But do you know why they are wearing masks? Because once they take them off, we will see that these are the ones who abandoned our soldiers and ran away, filled with fear. I do not rule out that they are also the ones who fired from behind.

Go on, take off your masks, come out—let me see who you are. You come to Armenia wearing masks and making videos with automatic weapons? I will find each and every one of you. Take off your masks and present yourselves voluntarily.

You left our children alone in the positions and ran away, you scum, you scoundrels. You ran away at Ferrari speed—who are you to speak? Are you the ones who come to tell us that we sacrificed our children? You are the ones who fled from positions.

We will bring each and every one of you to your knees, we will hold you accountable for leaving our children alone and fleeing,” said Pashinyan.