Decorated Armenian War Hero Col. Edik Maloyan Arrested on State Secrets Charges

Armenian authorities have arrested Col. Edik Maloyan, a decorated military commander known for his role in the 2016 Four-Day War, on suspicion of unlawfully obtaining and disclosing classified state information, the country’s Investigative Committee said Thursday.

Investigators also detained the secrecy officer of Maloyan’s Defense Ministry military unit. According to the Investigative Committee, prosecutors allege that Maloyan persuaded the officer, who had authorized access to classified information, to disclose state secrets before later publishing information that investigators say he obtained illegally.

Maloyan has been charged with unlawfully obtaining and disclosing state secret information, as well as inciting another person to disclose classified information. The secrecy officer has been charged with disclosing state secrets.

Following the arrests, prosecutors asked the court to place both men in pretrial detention. The court is currently considering that request.

The arrest has drawn widespread attention because of Maloyan’s military record. During the 2016 Four-Day War, he led an operation to recapture frontline positions where Armenian servicemen Robert Abajyan and Armenak Urfanyan made their final stand. He is also known for recovering the severed head of Armenian soldier Kyaram Sloyan and returning it to the soldier’s family after Azerbaijani forces allegedly beheaded him, an act Armenian authorities have described as a war crime.

The investigation remains ongoing. Under Armenian law, the charges are allegations, and both suspects are presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court.

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