Former Armenian prime minister charged with money laundering
YEREVAN, July 30. /ARKA/. The preliminary investigation into a criminal case involving former Armenian Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, who is charged with money laundering of approximately 470 million drams, has been completed, according to a report from the press service of the Anti-Corruption Committee.
While serving as Minister of Territorial Administration, Head of the Office of the President, and then as Prime Minister, Hovik Abrahamyan used his official position and influence over state and local government bodies to order illegal auctions.
As a result, he acquired land plots at significantly reduced prices in the Dilijan community of the Tavush region — plots totaling about 75,000 square meters — as well as arable land and pastures totaling 120 hectares in the Narek community of the Ararat region and land plots totaling 48.4092 hectares in the Mkhchan community.
These properties were illegally removed from the communities' property lists without legal grounds. To conceal the criminal origin of these properties, whose market value was about 240 million drams, Abrahamyan ensured their registration in the names of his relatives. Subsequently, a significant part of the property was re-registered in his wife's name through fictitious transactions, as well as in the name of a company under his control. He continued to own and manage these assets.
From 2008 to 2015, he participated in the management of the aforementioned company and Avazahatik, a company engaged in sand mining. As a result, he received an especially large profit of about 230 million drams.
Abrahamyan was charged with abuse and excess of official powers, illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity, and legalization (laundering) of especially large property assets obtained by criminal means using his official position.
During the preliminary investigation, the property of the accused and individuals affiliated with him was seized.
The preliminary investigation of the criminal case has been completed. The case materials with the indictment have been transferred to the supervising prosecutor for approval of the charges and referring the case to court.-0-
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