Armenian High-Ranking Officials at Sochi Casino: 'Hraparak'

This photo features Rafik Mashadyan, Deputy Head of the State Revenue Committee (SRC), at a casino. His companions include two other SRC employees, one from the Internal Security Department, and Tigran Zakaryan, the head of Zvartnots Customs, who, according to our sources, is Mashadyan's godfather. This information was reported by 'Hraparak', which published the photo.

“We were informed that the photo was taken in the summer. We were also told that the SRC deputy has an affinity for visiting casinos, which is extraordinary for a public official. It’s even more extraordinary in this case since he appeared in a casino when the country was under quarantine, and casinos were closed, borders were also closed. Presumably, this isn’t one of Armenia's casinos but is instead abroad; we were told it is most likely one of the casinos in Sochi. How they managed to travel under closed borders is something only he could clarify.

Thus, we attempted to obtain a comment directly from Rafik Mashadyan, who, let’s recall, is a relative of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's wife, Anna Hakobyan, and has held high positions in the SRC since the previous administration. We should also remember that in the past, Serzh Sargsyan and many former officials were accused of frequenting casinos, making it at least morally questionable for a state official to visit one.

We contacted Rafik Mashadyan. Upon hearing our question, he initially began denying that such a thing could happen. When we pointed out that it was indeed him seated at the gambling table in the photo, he became agitated and breached the boundaries of propriety. “I don’t know what photo you have, I am telling you again, it is impossible, this cannot be happening,” he said. So, you deny having been to the casino? “Do you know that casinos in Armenia are not functioning at all? Are you lying or what?” he responded.

We pointed out that this appears to be a summer photo and that according to our information, it is not from Armenia but abroad. The SRC deputy then began to get angry and spoke in a threatening tone: “So, listen to what I am telling you, Mr. Vahe Makaryan, you are already attempting to discredit me or intruding into my personal life. Publish whatever you want, but I am warning you… Listen to me, don’t call me at all, publish whatever you want,” he raised his voice, losing his composure.

It later came to our attention that the casino visible in the photo is indeed located in Sochi. There are three gaming complexes operating in the Krasnaya Polyana area of Sochi: Casino Sochi, Bumerang Casino, and Bonus gaming machines. The one where the SRC officials were is the Casino Sochi,” the media outlet reports.