Armenian lawmaker denies Russian allegations of links to diamond smugglers - Updated

An Armenian businessman and lawmaker representing the ruling Civil Contract party has denied allegations by Russian authorities linking him with a diamond smuggling case. Russia’s TASS news agency, citing a spokesperson for the Federal Security Service of Russia, reported that four individuals were arrested in Moscow for stealing diamonds from the Alrosa company and smuggling them into Armenia. The report claimed that the smuggled diamonds were supplied to ADM Diamonds, a company described by the Russian authorities as being run by Sukiasyan.

Sukiasyan’s spokesperson, Anna Mkrtchyan, categorically denied the allegations.
She called the report "fake news." She said that Sukiasyan is not engaged in the diamond industry.

“The Sukiasyan family has nothing to do with the diamond factory,” Mkrtchyan said.

“This is yet another piece of fake news. It is entirely untrue and fabricated,” she said in a statement.

Mkrtchyan claimed that the report is a continuation of earlier fake news which alleged that the Armenian legislator planned to acquire the Electric Networks of Armenia in order to sell it to Turkish businesses.

“It’s the same handwriting. I guess there will be more fake news — it seems an information war has been declared. I repeat, the report is disinformation,” Mkrtchyan said.

ADM Diamonds issued a statement refuting the Russian disinformation.

It said that the company has no relation with Sukiasyan. It added that it has never cooperated with smugglers and that it gets it supplies from the UAE and Hong Kong, and not Russia. The company said it possesses all documents proving the legality of its operations. 

This article has been updated with comments from ADM Diamonds.