Another Armenian executive arrested in expanding Multi Group investigation

An Armenian court has ordered the two-month pretrial detention of Artur Dallakyan, director of Multi Transport, as part of an ongoing criminal investigation involving opposition leader and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, Armenian authorities said.

The decision was confirmed to TASS by Kima Avdalyan, spokesperson for Armenia's Investigative Committee.

"Artur Dallakyan has been remanded in custody for two months," Avdalyan said.

Dallakyan's arrest follows the earlier detention of Sedrak Arustamyan, the former chief executive officer and chairman of the board of directors of the Multi Group conglomerate, who is also being investigated in connection with the same case.

According to Avdalyan, both Arustamyan and Dallakyan were detained on August 5. They have been charged under Article 46-255, Part 3, Clause 3 of Armenia's Criminal Code with aiding large-scale fraud, and under Article 46-296, Part 3, Clause 3 with aiding large-scale money laundering.

The investigation is linked to Gagik Tsarukyan, the owner of Multi Group, leader of the opposition Prosperous Armenia party, and one of the country's most prominent businessmen.

Tsarukyan was arrested on July 7 and remanded in custody for two months. He faces charges of complicity in large-scale fraud and large-scale money laundering.

In addition to the financial crimes investigation, Tsarukyan is also the subject of a separate criminal case involving the alleged illegal hunting of wild animals.

By Vafa Guliyeva