Armenian Consul in Austria Detained on Espionage Suspicion — Hraparak

Hraparak has reported, citing unnamed sources, that Ashkhen Aleksanyan, Armenia’s consul in Austria, was detained upon her return to Yerevan on suspicion of espionage in favor of Azerbaijan, Orda.kz reports.

The Arrest supposedly occurred two months ago and was kept under wraps to avoid controversy.

According to Hraparak, the discovery of documents in her possession raised suspicions and led to her detention.

On the day of the alleged arrest, the National Security Service conducted a day-long search at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, examining computers and official records, The Caucasusian Knot writes.

A former MFA employee, speaking anonymously to Hraparak, described Aleksanyan’s career as beginning in the civil service before she transferred to the consular department, where she received diplomatic status.

Armenia’s Foreign Ministry has not commented on the matter. The MFA website lists Andranik Hovhannisyan as ambassador to Austria, with no mention of Aleksanyan.

No official confirmation of her detention appears on the ministry’s or embassy’s public pages.

Pastinfo, meanwhile, claims to have contacted the RA Criminal Investigation Department to find out what status Ashkhen Aleksanyan currently has, whether there are charges, and if so, what the accusations are.

However, the department did not comment and suggested sending a written request. Pastinfo said it will follow up once an official response is received.