Armenia opens new tax evasion case against opposition leader Tsarukyan

Armenian authorities have opened a new criminal case against businessman and opposition politician Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the Prosperous Armenia party, adding to the legal proceedings already underway against him, his attorney Emin Khachatryan said.

According to the defence, the latest investigation was launched under Article 290 of Armenia's Criminal Code, which concerns the evasion of taxes, duties, or other mandatory payments. The case focuses on the operations of a cognac distillery, Caliber.Az reports per Russian media.

Khachatryan said Tsarukyan has no role in managing the business. He argued that since Tsarukyan was first elected to Armenia's parliament in 2003, he has placed all of his assets under trust management and has not been involved in the day-to-day operations of his companies.

The attorney also said that during questioning at Armenia's Investigative Committee, two confrontations were held involving two Iranian brothers serving as witnesses. According to Khachatryan, the witnesses arrived for questioning with suitcases, which he claimed suggested they intended to leave Armenia afterwards.

The new case comes as Tsarukyan remains in pretrial detention over separate charges of fraud and money laundering. He was arrested on July 7 for two months.

Investigators allege that Tsarukyan and several alleged accomplices embezzled more than $21 million through schemes involving the import of fuel and other goods from Iran. Tsarukyan has rejected the allegations, describing the case as politically motivated and fabricated.

Following his arrest, Armenian law enforcement authorities sealed several businesses linked to Tsarukyan. On July 6, investigators carried out searches at his residence and approximately 70 other locations as part of the ongoing investigation.

By Sabina Mammadli