Armenian Ambassador in Israel Charged with Crimes, Wanted by Authorities

As a result of extensive investigative and procedural actions undertaken by the Investigative Committee of Armenia's Yerevan City Directorate, it has been revealed that the Armenian Ambassador to Israel, A.S., assisted the former Minister of Culture and Youth in committing abuses, along with facilitating the legalization of property obtained through money laundering.

According to data acquired during the investigation, A.S., who also serves as the president of the "Armenian Cultural Cooperation with Foreign Countries" NGO, aided former Minister of Culture and Youth, H.P., in the misuse of official position to transfer a plot of land designated as a cultural heritage site under Article 60 of Armenia's land code, located at 3 Abovyan Street in Yerevan, to the NGO's ownership.

Subsequently, in preliminary agreement with H.P., the historic building and the plot of land were sold through a formal transaction for $550,000 to a company owned by H.P.’s daughter-in-law, registered in the British Virgin Islands, thereby legalizing property obtained through criminal means by distorting the true nature and source of the property.

Based on the sufficient combination of evidence gathered, A.S. has been charged under part 2 of Article 38-308 of the Armenian Criminal Code (assisting in the misuse of official powers) and under point 1 of part 3 of Article 190 (legalization of property obtained through criminal means, i.e., money laundering). A measure of restraint in the form of bail has been set at 20,000,000 Armenian drams.

Previously, it was reported that the former Minister of Culture and Youth was involved as a defendant under part 2 of Article 308 and point 1 of part 3 of Article 190 of the Armenian Criminal Code, and a wanted notice has been issued for him. The preliminary investigation is ongoing.