Several former officials and university executives wanted in money laundering case

Armenian law enforcement agencies have announced arrest warrants against several prominent former officials in a major corruption and money laundering case involving property worth over 200 million drams.

According to the Investigative Committee, former officials—including ex-Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, former Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan, his son Artyom Khachatryan, ex–Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, and several former university and business officials—are accused of abusing official positions.

The alleged crimes occurred between 2009 and 2016 while they were in office.

Authorities allege they orchestrated a scheme that transferred a 451.1 sq. meter state-owned property in central Yerevan (Pushkin Street), belonging to Brusov State University, out of public ownership and later laundered it through a sham purchase for 75 million drams. It was allegedly registered under the name of Artyom Khachatryan following a staged transaction intended to conceal its true ownership.

Vigen Sargsyan served as Defense Minister from 2016 to 2018 and previously served as Chief of Staff in the administration of Serzh Sargsyan. He was chairman of the university’s governing board at the time the alleged scheme was orchestrated. Armen Ashotyan served as Minister of Education and Science from 2009 to 2016.

Gagik Khachatryan served as Chairman of the State Revenue Committee from 2008 to 2014 and as Minister of Finance from 2014 to 2016.

Former rector of Brusov State University Gayane Gasparyan, former vice-rector Artur Avagyan, and former deputy director of the “Yerevan Mall” shopping center Harutyun Tadevosyan are also wanted.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against the seven individuals mentioned above under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia for abuse of official authority, aiding and abetting such abuse, large-scale money laundering committed by a group, and aiding and abetting those offenses. Arrest warrants have been issued.