Armenian law enforcement ordered to seize weapons of former officials over fears of revenge

In Armenia, law enforcement officers have been ordered to seize weapons from former officials over fears of a "vendetta," the newspaper Zhoghovurd writes.

"A decision has been made within the law enforcement system to seize all weapons held by former high-ranking officials. According to our sources, this includes weapons acquired legally and duly registered," the newspaper writes.

The Interior Ministry is filing lawsuits against former officials, demanding that they surrender to the state even those weapons that were received as a gift, an award, or purchased.

The publication's sources link this process to the recently intensified actions of law enforcement agencies against former officials. Within the law enforcement system, there are fears that actions concerning the property and possessions of the "former officials," which in political circles are already being characterized as "dekulakization," could lead to personal reprisals or a vendetta. To reduce this risk, an attempt is being made to limit as much as possible the presence of weapons in the hands of former officials.