Director of ‘Multi Group’ and Family Members Summoned to Prosecutor’s Office: Details

In a case concerning the seizure of property of illegal origin, Sedrak Arustamyan, his wife and son, Varditer Khachatryan and Garik Arustamyan, have been summoned to the Prosecutor’s Office. This information was reported by the Ministry of Justice through its azdarar.am website.

Sedrak Arustamyan has been the General Director of the ‘Multi Group’ concern, owned by the family of Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of the Prosperous Armenia party, since 2002.

The notification mentions that a study has been conducted regarding the property belonging to them, which resulted in a summary report being prepared. According to the Prosecutor’s Office, the Arustamyans can present themselves at the Prosecutor’s Office within one month from receiving the notification to review the case materials, present their position, as well as declarations, but it emphasizes that they must appear by August 3, 2023.

Arustamyan’s name is connected with three criminal cases. One is related to the construction undertaken by the company in downtown Yerevan, where ‘Multi Group’ began building a hotel on Abovyan Street in 2018. When a representative of a business operating in the area complained to the court, the company did not stop the construction. In this case, Arustamyan is accused of failing to halt illegal construction on communal land.

The second criminal case involves the ‘North-South’ construction project. The director associated with Gagik Tsarukyan's family is accused in this case of engaging in fraudulent entrepreneurial activities, evading significant taxes, and money laundering.

According to the Investigative Committee, Gurgen Sargsyan, who served as Minister of Transport and Communications from 2008 to 2010, allegedly issued fake tax invoices totaling 177 million drams to the ‘Stons’ company for services supposedly provided with the collaboration of Arustamyan and others. Most of the money was transferred to Sedrak Arustamyan.

Arustamyan is also implicated in a bribery case. He denies the charges in all three cases.