Court Rejects Appeal Against Inspections of Companies Owned by Sashik Sargsyan's Children

The Court of Appeals, presided over by judge Mnatsakan Harutyunyan, rejected today, October 1, the appeal lodged by Narak Sargsyan and Ani Sargsyan, the children of Armenia's third president Levon Sargsyan, against the legality of a decision to conduct inspections in companies owned by them.

It is noteworthy that Narak and Ani Sargsyan, along with their father Levon Sargsyan, are defendants in a criminal case concerning illegal enrichment and concealing property that is subject to declaration.

In this case, specialized inspections have been carried out in their companies, against which they have filed a complaint. On March 27, 2019, the first-instance court, reviewing the complaint filed by the Sargsyans regarding violations of Ani and Narak Sargsyan's rights and freedoms, decided to dismiss it. That court decision was appealed by the Sargsyans' lawyer, Mihran Poghosyan, in the Court of Appeals.

The case was examined behind closed doors in the appellate court. It is worth reminding that the criminal case initiated a year ago by the Special Investigative Service, which implicated Levon Sargsyan in charges of illegal enrichment and concealing property subject to declaration, had already led to a court decision for his arrest.

Recently, Levon Sargsyan was also implicated as a suspect in a criminal case regarding alleged abuses during the development and implementation of the "North-South Road Corridor" project. He faces allegations under Article 190(3)(1) of the Criminal Code of Armenia (legalizing large sums of property acquired through criminal means—money laundering) and Article 311(4)(2) (receiving a particularly large bribe).

A wanted notice has been issued against Sargsyan, and a decision for his repeated arrest has been made.