Armenian opposition party leader Tsarukyan questioned again

Armenian businessman and Prosperous Armenia opposition party leader Gagik Tsarukyan has once again been transferred from a detention facility to the country's Investigative Committee for questioning.

This is the third time Tsarukyan has been questioned this week, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

On July 22, attorney Yerem Sargsyan had been reportedly removed from the case and summoned for questioning as a witness in an investigation involving Iranian citizens recognised as victims.

Tsarukyan has been charged with organising large-scale fraud and money laundering.

Investigators allege that between 2022 and 2024, a criminal group operating under his leadership established joint companies, including the Armenian-Iranian Chamber of Commerce, under the pretext of promoting trade and economic ties between Armenia and Iran, with the participation of Iranian citizens.

According to the investigation, the alleged scheme caused more than $21 million in damages to the state.

In a separate case, Tsarukyan is accused of conspiring with another individual to fraudulently obtain $934,000 in connection with a fuel supply deal involving an Iranian citizen.

Authorities have also opened a separate criminal case accusing Tsarukyan of illegal hunting of wild animals and birds.

During searches of his residence, investigators sedated and removed three lions and four tigers, which were transferred to Yerevan Zoo, along with 190 taxidermied animals and birds. Prosecutors allege the illegal hunting caused environmental damage exceeding $81,000.

By Bakhtiyar Abbasov