Armenia detains pro-Russian blogger Mika Badalyan and Sputnik Armenia journalist Ashot Gevorgyan

Armenia has arrested pro-Russian blogger Mika Badalyan and Sputnik Armenia journalist Ashot Gevorgyan in a case of illegal trafficking in weapons and ammunition.

The press secretary of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Gor Abrahamyan, reported this.

In addition, five other people were detained.

"On September 6 and 7, seven people were detained in the Syunik Province on the base of reasonable suspicion of committing the alleged crime... including Mika Badalyan and Ashot Gevorgyan," Abrahamyan wrote.

Russia calls the detention a "political provocation" and calls for the release of the detainees.

During the searches, the detainees were found to have "a rifle of "AK" type, combat bullets, grenades, grenade detonators, pistols, bayonet knives, various types of property of military significance, bushes of the hemp plant."

Sputnik Armenia stated that Badalyan had previously been detained for "spreading false information" but released on bail.