What is the “Arbat” unit and how did it receive the blessing of Archbishop Ezras?  

The National Security Service of Armenia (NSS), through operational reconnaissance measures, has discovered an attempt to prepare usurpation of power in Armenia.

As reported by the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia on September 18, a group of Armenian and Nagorno-Karabakh citizens, whose names are not published, made preparations to usurp the power as part of the group, i.e., they deliberately set conditions to seize the power of the Republic of Armenia by using violence and threat of violence and to come into possession of the powers of the government of the Republic of Armenia.

It is also reported that these persons, with a preliminary agreement, “they recruited a number of Armenian citizens and former residents of Nagorno-Karabakh during 2024 for a monthly pay of around 220,000 RF rubles (more than USD 2,300) each, to participate in three-month drills in the Russian Federation and during that time familiarize with new heavy weapons and acquire the skills to use them, then on the pretext of carrying out combat duty after returning to the Republic of Armenia, as well as passing on the knowledge to other people, seize the power of the Republic of Armenia.”

The recruited persons went to the city of Rostov-on-Don in the Russian Federation in different groups, underwent preliminary checks, including through a polygraph machine, to reveal their personal characteristics and political views, as well as their relationship with the Armenian law enforcement agencies.

“After the preliminary checks, the members of the criminal group placed the recruits in the military base named “Arbat” operating under the leadership of A.S., after which they conducted drills with them to combat in an indoor area using weapons they already knew. In addition, they were informed that the purpose of the drills was to return to the Republic of Armenia and to oust the current government, thus calling for the cleansing and saving of the Republic of Armenia,” the official message states.

According to the source, the crime was not completed, and as a result of operational actions, criminal prosecution was initiated against 7 persons: 3 of them were arrested, and 4 were declared wanted.

About “Arbat”

“Arbat” (Armenian battalion), a unit of the multinational “Pyatnashka” group, has Armenian roots and was established during the Russian-Ukrainian war in 2022. Its founder is Armenian Arman Sargsyan, nicknamed “Gorlovsky,” who is wanted by the Ukrainian authorities.

The commander of “Arbat” is Hayk Gasparyan (nicknamed “Abrek”) from Artsakh, a former Wagnerian. The latter, by the way, was sentenced to 7.3 years in prison for armed and violent robbery. In 2023, the Insider wrote that he served his sentence in a maximum security prison and was drafted and sent to the war in Ukraine in 2022.

Russia Today writes that “Arbat” does not have a permanent location, it is a group of militants that appears on the scene during special operations.

In a conversation with RT, Hayk Gasparyan was proud of having 9 medals, one of which he received from Russian President Vladimir Putin for “demonstrating courage during a special military operation.”

In June 2023, this unit signed an agreement with the Ministry of Defense of the Russian Federation, before which its “birth” took place in solemn conditions in the territory of the Armenian Apostolic Church in Moscow. It was then that “Arbat” received the blessing of Archbishop Ezras, leader of the Russian Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. The latter is the brother of Catholicos of All Armenians Garegin II.

“Arbat” is composed solely of Armenians. “This unit will be composed entirely of Armenians – ARBAT-Armenian Battalion. We decided to highlight both history and politics… that is why the unit will fight under the Armenian flag” wrote the telegram channel of “Pyatnashka” group in July 2023.

Now “Arbat” is participating in the battles for the Kursk region.

Hasmik Hambardzumyan