People in masks and with machine guns threaten Pashinyan: criminal case opened after video on social networks

Armenia's Investigative Committee has opened a criminal case after a video appeared on social networks and in a pro-government media outlet showing masked individuals holding machine guns and threatening Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

According to Armenian media reports, based on information received from the police, unknown individuals gained unauthorized access to data stored in a computer network that was not intended for public use.

They then, acting out of hooligan motives, distributed a video recording containing a death threat against the prime minister in connection with his state and political activities. "Nikol, you will have to answer, we know where you walk, which streets you pass through. We will waste you, Nikol," one of them said.

Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan also commented on the situation. "Look at these punks. They put on masks and present themselves as heroes. These are the same heroes who [...] abandoned our soldiers," he told journalists.

"We will smear them across the floor. All those who speak to us in the language of threats with machine guns on their shoulders, I will find each one of them and destroy them. Look at Rob's, Tashir's, Serzhik's, Gago's punks. Take off your masks and turn yourselves in voluntarily. Law enforcement agencies will find them and send them to penal institutions," Pashinyan stated.

A criminal case has been initiated under articles concerning preparation for murder, computer sabotage, and illegal arms trafficking. An investigation has been launched.