YEREVAN—The former defense minister of the Nagorno-Karabakh Republic, who recently had become a opposition voice to the government of Serzh Sarkisian, was arrested Wednesday.

Armenia’s National Security Services confirmed reports circulating in Armenian media throughout the day that Samvel Babayan was, in fact, in custody along with two other people who are being charged with the illegal import of Igla portable air defense missiles into Armenia.

The NSS press service noted in its announcement that according to the agency’s investigation as well as information obtained from “reliable sources,” the people who were importing parts for the operation of the air defense missiles were working with Babayan and had “prior agreements” and were working on “his orders.”

Babayan was commander of the Nagorno-Karabakh Armed Forces during the Artsakh war in the 1990s and later became the defense minister of the republic.

After moving to Armenia, he has been a vocal opposition to Sarkisian’s government.

This is a developing story and Asbarez will report on new information as it becomes available.