NSS seeks criminal probe into NGO head over distribution of Azerbaijani song video

The National Security Service (NSS) has filed a report to the Investigative Committee against the head of an NGO over the distribution of a video which shows a group of men singing "Karabakh" in Azerbaijani in Yerevan's central Republic Square. Earlier on Friday, the agency clarified that the individuals featured in the video were Iranian citizens.

"On January 30, a video featuring a group of Iranian citizens in Yerevan's Republic Square began circulating online. Following extensive operational and intelligence measures, the NSS gathered evidence confirming that the video was shared by G. B., the head of the Independent Center for Strategic Studies NGO, on the organization's Facebook page," the NSS said in a statement on Saturday.

"Along with the video, G. B. used information and communication technologies to make public statements inciting and/or promoting hatred and intolerance against a group of people for political and social reasons," the agency added.

Based on the evidence gathered through intelligence operations, a report on an alleged crime has been filed to the Investigative Committee under Article 329 of Armenia’s Criminal Code.