David Galstyan Charged with Embezzlement of Large Amounts; Involved in Four Criminal Cases

Former advisor to the Minister of Defense David Tonoyan, businessman David Galstyan (nicknamed Patron Davo), involved in arms trade, has been charged as a defendant in one of the criminal cases being investigated by the National Security Service (NSS). This was confirmed to CivilNet by the NSS in response to a written inquiry.

“Officials from the Ministry of Defense, having reached preliminary agreements with employees of several trading companies, including Galstyan's own 'Moston Engineering,' have used their official positions to embezzle particularly large amounts of money allocated to them from the state budget for purchasing goods,” the NSS stated regarding the case being investigated by the NSS Investigative Department. Galstyan has been accused of embezzlement of particularly large amounts.

In total, Galstyan is involved in four criminal cases being investigated by the NSS, which relate to supplies from his affiliated companies. “There is evidence of abuse of official authority, negligent performance of duties, and embezzlement of particularly large amounts by relevant officials from the Ministry of Defense and the General Staff of the Armenian Armed Forces,” the NSS noted.

We inquired whether Galstyan has been prohibited from crossing the Armenian border, to which the NSS replied that this is pre-investigation secrecy and is not subject to publication.

Galstyan owns several offshore companies as well as registered companies in Armenia engaged in arms trade and is one of the main suppliers to the military.

CivilNet previously reported on Galstyan’s activities, revealing that his name has appeared in several reports by UN Security Council experts. One of Galstyan's companies also produces Kalashnikov rifles in Armenia.