Armenia investigating Wagner fighters' alleged presence on its territory

The Armenian Investigative Committee continues to check the information about the presence of 12,000 fighters of the Russian private military company Wagner PMC in the country.

In September 2023, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated in Parliament that reports about the arrival of Wagner PMC members in Armenia had been published in Telegram channels and the National Security Service (NSS) was checking this information within its authority, Caliber.Az reports, citing the Committee’s response to a request from Armenian media.

In December 2023, in response to a media enquiry, the NSS stated that they were continuing the verification. In response to a new enquiry, the NSS said that the criminal proceedings had been transferred to the Armenian Investigative Committee.

"We would like to inform you that the criminal proceedings initiated in the Main Investigation Department of the National Security Service, related to the publications on the presence of Wagner PMC fighters in Armenia, are being investigated in the Main Department for Investigation of Crimes against the State, Fundamentals of Constitutional Order and Public Security of the Investigative Committee of the Investigative Committee of Armenia," the department's response reads.

Rumours about the presence of Wagner PMC fighters in Armenia appeared before the elections to the Yerevan Council of Elders. At first, it was about three thousand people, then there were allegations about 12,000 who were to stage a coup and remove Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan from power.