Armenia’s finance chief questioned in illegal business activity case

Armenia’s Minister of Finance, Vahe Hovhannisyan, was questioned two days ago in connection with a criminal investigation into alleged illegal business activity.

Hovhannisyan confirmed this information during a meeting with journalists, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

According to earlier media reports, the case was opened by Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee and concerns the minister’s alleged connections with the closed joint-stock company Caritas-Italiana, which operates in the information technology sector.

The company had previously received a state license as a startup. The investigation was launched on suspicion of illegal entrepreneurial activity.

Commenting on the matter, Hovhannisyan stated that he has not engaged in any business activities since entering public service, although he acknowledged that he had been involved in certain initiatives prior to becoming a government official.

The finance minister also clarified that he was questioned in the case in the capacity of a witness.

By Tamilla Hasanova