Armenian law-enforcement authorities launch criminal case against former prime minister, his brother and ex police chief

YEREVAN, August 30. /ARKA/. Armenian law-enforcement authorities have launched a criminal case against a former parliament speaker and prime minister Hovik Abrahamyan, his brother Jonik and a former chief of police Alik Sargsyan.  The Investigative Committee said they are suspected of abuse of power and fraud.

The Investigative Committee said an inquiry started on the grounds of a statement made by the director of Avazahatik mining company, revealed that the company was established in 2000 and was engaged in mining activities in the Ararat region. It also said a total of $80,000 investment was  made in the company, however, in 2008, several high-ranking officials created artificial obstacles, hindering its activities. 

In particular, the director was told by the officials to give a 60% stake in the company to two other persons (30% each), while the agreement with the owner of the land where the company started work was declared null and void by a court decision.

The head of the company and other witnesses said the persons who seized the stake were Hovik Abrahamyan, his brother Jonik and Alik Sargsyan. The criminal case was sent to the Special Investigation Service," the Investigative Committee said.

Hovik Abrahamyan in 2008 was the speaker of the Armenian parliament; in 2014-2016 he served as prime minister. In 2008, Alik Sargsyan was the governor of the Ararat region, and in 2008-2011 he served as chief of police.

On August 8 this year Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) arrested Hovik Abrahamyan’s brother Henrik after searching a property in the village of Mkhchyan and finding a weapons cache there with three machine guns, seven Kalashnikov assault rifles and seven other firearms. The property is believed to be owned by Hovik Abrahamyan.

The NSS said together with the Special Investigative Service (SIS) it was trying to find out whether these weapons were used against opposition protesters on March 1-2, 2008, when eight supporters of Levon Ter-Petrosyan, the main opposition candidate in the February 2008 election, and two police servicemen were killed. -0-