Spayka-Rus CEOs Kazaryan and Sarukhanyan are on trial in Moscow for allegedly siphoning off 44 billion rubles
15.09.2026,
20:04
The trial in absentia of David Kazaryan and Arayik Sarukhanyan, respectively the founder and CEO of Spayka-Rus LLC, the Russian subsidiary of Armenia's largest fruit and vegetable exporter, has begun in Moscow, Kommersant reports.
YEREVAN, September 15. /ARKA/. The trial in absentia of David Kazaryan and Arayik Sarukhanyan, respectively the founder and CEO of Spayka-Rus LLC, the Russian subsidiary of Armenia's largest fruit and vegetable exporter, has begun in Moscow, Kommersant reports.
The entrepreneurs are accused of siphoning approximately 44 billion rubles out of Russia through fictitious contracts, evading VAT of 5 billion rubles, and laundering money.
The Ostankino Court in Moscow began hearing the criminal case against Kazaryan and Sarukhanyan on September 14. They are charged with large-scale tax evasion by a legal entity, foreign exchange transactions involving the transfer of funds to non-resident accounts using forged documents, and money laundering (Articles 199, 193.1, and 174.1 of the Russian Criminal Code).
The trial is being held in absentia, as both entrepreneurs are reportedly currently residing in Armenia.
The criminal case against Kazaryan and Sarukhanyan was opened by the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in April 2019. According to investigators, the businessmen siphoned approximately 44 billion rubles out of the country under contracts to supply fruit and vegetable products to Russia. From 2015 to 2018, when the documents indicate the deliveries took place, only 2% of the contract value of fruits and vegetables were imported into Russia.
According to investigators, taxes on the transactions were also not paid. According to law enforcement agencies, the withdrawn funds were invested in shares of various companies, which investigators classified as money laundering.
Following the investigation in Russia, Kazaryan was also charged in Armenia with $17 million in tax evasion. After the businessman compensated the state for the damages, his criminal prosecution was dropped.
In March 2025, the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation charged Kazaryan and Sarukhanyan in absentia, and both were placed on the wanted list. Investigators consider Kazaryan the organizer of the crimes with which the businessmen are accused, and Sarukhanyan the perpetrator.
The investigation was suspended twice due to the search for the defendants, and then resumed. The case was filed in court in August 2026.
ARKA News Agency contacted Spayka for comment.
The entrepreneurs are accused of siphoning approximately 44 billion rubles out of Russia through fictitious contracts, evading VAT of 5 billion rubles, and laundering money.
The Ostankino Court in Moscow began hearing the criminal case against Kazaryan and Sarukhanyan on September 14. They are charged with large-scale tax evasion by a legal entity, foreign exchange transactions involving the transfer of funds to non-resident accounts using forged documents, and money laundering (Articles 199, 193.1, and 174.1 of the Russian Criminal Code).
The trial is being held in absentia, as both entrepreneurs are reportedly currently residing in Armenia.
The criminal case against Kazaryan and Sarukhanyan was opened by the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation in April 2019. According to investigators, the businessmen siphoned approximately 44 billion rubles out of the country under contracts to supply fruit and vegetable products to Russia. From 2015 to 2018, when the documents indicate the deliveries took place, only 2% of the contract value of fruits and vegetables were imported into Russia.
According to investigators, taxes on the transactions were also not paid. According to law enforcement agencies, the withdrawn funds were invested in shares of various companies, which investigators classified as money laundering.
Following the investigation in Russia, Kazaryan was also charged in Armenia with $17 million in tax evasion. After the businessman compensated the state for the damages, his criminal prosecution was dropped.
In March 2025, the Main Investigative Directorate of the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation charged Kazaryan and Sarukhanyan in absentia, and both were placed on the wanted list. Investigators consider Kazaryan the organizer of the crimes with which the businessmen are accused, and Sarukhanyan the perpetrator.
The investigation was suspended twice due to the search for the defendants, and then resumed. The case was filed in court in August 2026.
ARKA News Agency contacted Spayka for comment.
