Retired Armenian Officer Arrested for Espionage

YEREVAN — The Armenian National Security Service has arrested a retired military officer on charges of spying for Azerbaijan.

The Security Service said on December 9 that retired Major Garik Marutian, 38-year-old Armavir resident, is suspected of passing classified information to Azerbaijani secret service agents during his tenure as an intelligence officer in Armenia’s armed forces.

Marutian “contacted Azerbaijani special services based in Turkey through social media and handed them over data including state secrets for certain remuneration”. According to National Security Service press release.

Marutian faces a charge of high treason and could be sentenced to up to 15 years in jail if found guilty.