Armenian blogger Mika Badalyan has been detained for 72 hours on charges of "illegal circulation of firearms", his lawyer, Erik Aleksanyan, informed the local media in a statement, APA reports.
***20.30
Pro-Russian blogger Mika Badalyan and commentator for Sputnik Armenia, Ashot Gevorkyan, were detained last night in Goris, APA reports citing Sputnik Armenia.
It has been reported that the currently detained individuals are held at the Investigative Committee.
Investigative measures regarding the incident are ongoing, but no information has been provided about the reason for the detention.
It has been reported that Mika Badalyan was arrested for spreading false information about 'terrorist acts being prepared in Armenia and its borders,' and later released on bail.
The official representative of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Maria Zakharova, has commented on the detention of pro-Russian journalists in Armenia. She referred to the arrest of Badalyan and Gevorkyan on the Telegram channel as a criticism against holding the Armenian-Russian media forum in Yerevan.
Zakharova stated, "Provocation by those who try to break relations between the two countries is improving. The West, on the other hand, invests heavily in this."
The spokesperson of the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs also noted that she does not believe the Armenian leadership, which came to power with slogans of universal freedom, will "sanction the persecution of journalists and prevent the spread of information."
Follow us on Telegram
t.me/apanewsaz
Follow us on Instagram
Follow us on Facebook
Follow us on Twitter
