Armenian security forces raid homes of Dashnaktsutyun members

Armenian security forces have launched a series of searches targeting members of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) Dashnaktsutyun party, further escalating political tensions in the country.

According to Armenian media, cited by Caliber.Az, the ARF Supreme Body confirmed that law enforcement officers are currently conducting searches at the residences of Igor Sargsyan, a member of the party’s Supreme Body; Vardan Avakyan, of the ARF’s Abovyan Committee; Artashes Unanyan, of the Hrazdan Committee; and Varazdat Amiraghyan, of the Noyemberyan Committee.

In addition, masked officers from Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) raided the home of opposition MP Artur Sargsyan, a member of the “Armenia” parliamentary faction. The information was shared on social media by his colleague and fellow Dashnak member, Ishkhan Saghatelyan.

The ARF, as a nationalist, socialist, and staunchly pro-Armenian opposition party, has long been a vocal critic of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's administration, and today’s developments have fueled concerns over growing pressure on the opposition.

The Dashnaktsutyun party combines left-wing economic views with strong nationalistic and patriotic themes. It is particularly influential in the Armenian diaspora communities across the U.S., France, Lebanon, and elsewhere, where it operates social, educational, and cultural institutions.

In recent years, especially after Armenia's defeat in the Second Karabakh War in 2020, the ARF has aligned itself with other opposition forces critical of Nikol Pashinyan, accusing him of compromising national interests.

By Khagan Isayev