Armenian authorities seek US seizure of former defence minister's mansion in Massachusetts

Armenian Prosecutor Sashik Avetisyan has said that Armenian authorities asked the US to seize the mansion of former Defence Minister Vigen Sargsyan in Massachusetts.

"Given that Vigen Sargsyan, who is accused of money laundering, purchased the mansion in the US with illegally acquired funds, an order to seize the property was issued by the investigator, and this was approved by the general jurisdiction court of Yerevan," Avetisyan said, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media. 

As part of legal assistance, a request for the seizure of the property has also been sent to the relevant authorities in the US.

Moreover, a seizure has been placed on four properties located on Abovyan Street and Northern Avenue in Yerevan. On May 15, the Anti-Corruption Court accepted a new lawsuit filed by the General Prosecutor's Office for the confiscation of illegally acquired assets. 

The authorities are seeking to confiscate real estate owned by Sargsyan and his associate (L.G.) in Yerevan, or its market value (181 million drams or $457,794), as well as residential property in the US state of Massachusetts, or the sum used to purchase it ($2.05 million, or 941 million drams). Moreover, funds totaling 255.5 million drams or $646,223 and 172.5 million drams or $436,295 are also subject to confiscation.

Vigen Sargsyan served as defence minister from October 2016 to May 2018 and as chief of the presidential administration from October 2011 to October 2016.

He is not related to former President Serzh Sargsyan or former Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan. Sargsyan left office following the Velvet Revolution in 2018, led by opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, who became the prime minister of Armenia. 

By Naila Huseynova