Investigators have requested the arrest of a blogger for a shout-out to Pashinyan.

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has opened a criminal case against blogger Artak Avetisyan, who called Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan a "traitor" in Yerevan's Shengavit district. A motion for his arrest has been filed with the court.

As reported by the Caucasian Knot, the Armenian parliamentary elections are scheduled for June 7. Seventeen parties and two blocs have been admitted. Samvel Karapetyan's Strong Armenia, along with Robert Kocharyan's Armenia bloc and Gagik Tsarukyan's Prosperous Armenia Party, is one of the most pro-Russian parties in the Armenian parliamentary elections. The Kremlin is banking on Karapetyan, but he is legally ineligible to participate in the elections, Armenian political scientists previously noted.

On May 12, 2026, Artak Avetisyan posted a video statement on his Facebook page* that security officials deemed to be inciting and spreading hatred, discrimination, and intolerance, the press service of the Investigative Committee of Armenia reported.

A criminal case has been opened against the blogger under the article on incitement to hatred (Clause 3, Part 2, Article 329 of the Criminal Code of Armenia). Avetisyan was detained during the preliminary investigation, and a petition has been filed with the court to apply a preventive measure in the form of detention against him, the agency said in a statement.

On May 12, police detained Artak Avetisyan in Yerevan's Shengavit district, who was chanting "Nikol, traitor!", News.am reported.

A video published by News.am shows police officers attempting to force Avetisyan into a car. After several minutes of resistance, the officers managed to force him into a police car and handcuff him. Avetisyan continued shouting, "Nikol, traitor!" He was taken to the Shengavit police station.

The "Caucasian Knot" has prepared a report "2026 Elections to the National Assembly (Parliament) of Armenia".