Armenian FM: No Armenian Citizens Among Islamic State Members Arrested in Egypt

YEREVAN — Spokesman for the Armenian Foreign Ministry Tigran Balayan has dismissed reports that an Armenian was among the members of the Islamic State group arrested in Egypt.

“In response to an inquiry of the Armenian embassy in Cairo, the Egyptian authorities confirmed that there were no Armenian citizens among the detained persons,” Tigran Balayan wrote on his twitter account.

“The Armenian citizen mentioned in media reports doesn’t exist,” Balayan stated.

Five foreigners and one Egyptian were arrested for joining “Islamic State” Monday, the Daily News of Egypt reported.

The six individuals are accused of volunteering to join IS, conducting acts of sabotage, and harming the country’s economic and social interests.

The defendants were identified as former army officer Ishan Jan from Tajikstan, Ali Akbr Abduallah from Serbia, Akhbar Yan Ali Tan from Belarus, Mohamed Share Ali, 44, a businessman from Armenia, Mohamed Bahaai from Iran, Bashar Ali Abduallah Al-Ansary from Syria, and Mohamed Faaz from Egypt.