Rumors circulating about the arrest of Artsakh National Security Service director Ararat Melkumyan have been confirmed as unfounded by multiple sources. Reports that Melkumyan was taken into custody by Azerbaijani authorities have circulated online, but these claims have been rebutted by credible outlets and officials who emphasize that no arrest took place. This clarification is part of a broader pattern where information related to security and political figures in the Nagorno-Karabakh region is quickly amplified, sometimes preceding verifiable confirmation. In the specific case of Melkumyan, the information widely shared in certain channels appears to have originated from unverified posts and later attributed statements that do not stand up to scrutiny when checked against official accounts and independent reporting. The situation underscores the importance of waiting for corroboration from trusted sources before drawing conclusions about actions by state security services or other government entities in this volatile area.
Before Melkumyan became a focal point of attention, reports circulated about the arrest of David Babayan, a former official associated with Nagorno-Karabakh diplomacy. The claims described Babayan as having been detained by Azerbaijani authorities and suggested that he had anticipated such an outcome, with the rumor further claiming that he had been placed on a blacklist. Officials and observers stress the need for caution when assessing these kinds of statements, noting that frequent rumors can complicate the political landscape and potentially influence public perception at sensitive moments in the regional dynamic.
Another development that drew attention involved Ruben Vardanyan, the former Nagorno-Karabakh Republic Minister of State. He was reported to have been detained while attempting to travel toward Armenia on a given date, with accusations including financing terrorism, organizing armed groups, and illegally crossing borders. Reports indicated that Vardanyan spent an extended period in isolation as a result. The flow of conflicting accounts surrounding his case illustrates the difficulty of obtaining a clear, consistent narrative amid ongoing security concerns and the political tensions between neighboring states in the region.
Earlier, tensions were visible in Stepanakert when gunfire was reported during a patrol operation involving Russian and Azerbaijani forces. Such incidents contribute to a climate of heightened alert and uncertainty for residents and officials alike, reinforcing the need for careful verification of each claim and an emphasis on verifiable updates from reliable, on-the-ground sources. The complexity of information in this region often requires analysts to distinguish between confirmed actions and speculative reports that spread quickly through various media channels, sometimes influencing sentiment more than policy or fact. In this context, measured reporting and cautious interpretation become essential to maintaining an accurate understanding of security developments and political moves involving Nagorno-Karabakh and adjacent areas.