Armenia’s Foreign Intelligence Service stated that allegations claiming detained peace activist and academic researcher Bahruz Samadov cooperated with Armenia’s special services are false and have no basis in fact.
The official statement was released on February 6 in response to a query from Armenian journalist Zhirayr Voskanyan. In his inquiry, Voskanyan asked for confirmation of claims that, according to the indictment, Samadov, who was convicted of treason, had supposedly been recruited by three Armenian women allegedly connected to Armenian intelligence.
The Service affirmed that it has never interacted with the individuals in question. This statement is considered Yerevan’s first official position regarding allegations that Samadov was supposedly working for Armenia.
Bahruz Samadov, a doctoral student at Charles University in the Czech Republic, was detained by officers of the State Security Service on August 21, 2024.
He was charged under Article 274 of the Criminal Code (treason). Bahruz Samadov does not accept the charges and does not consider himself guilty. On June 23, 2025, he was sentenced to 15 years’ imprisonment.
In April of last year, Samadov appealed to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, asking him to publicly declare that Samadov had not cooperated with Armenia’s special services.
