Armenian ex-minister detained over alleged property deal and laundering UPDATED

Armen Ashotyan, deputy chairman of Armenia’s Republican Party, has been arrested in connection with a criminal case involving the alleged illegal alienation of property belonging to Brusov University and money laundering.

The case centres on assets valued at 208,908,500 drams, equivalent to approximately $564,000, according to the reports cited by Caliber.Az.

Prosecutors allege that the offences were committed between 2009 and 2016, during the period when Ashotyan served as Armenia’s Minister of Education and Science.

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A senior member of Armenia’s Republican Party has been detained in Yerevan, party officials said.

Armen Ashotyan, deputy chairman of the Republican Party of Armenia, was detained early this morning, according to party member Eduard Sharmazanov, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

The Republican Party of Armenia is headed by former president Serzh Sargsyan.

Earlier, former head of Armenia’s Department for State Property Management, Arman Sahakyan, was detained over allegations of electoral bribery, according to reports.

Sahakyan, a representative of the Republican Party of Armenia, is suspected of involvement in either giving or receiving bribes linked to electoral activity.

By Aghakazim Guliyev