Media: Armenia bars oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan from leaving country

Armenian authorities have prohibited oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan from leaving the country.

The decision was made about a month ago as part of a criminal case initiated in 2018–2019, Caliber.Az reports, citing Hraparak newspaper sources.

According to the publication, the move came as a surprise even to Tsarukyan’s lawyers.

Additionally, around ten days ago, the State Revenue Committee resumed inspections at the Shangri-La casino, the report said.

Tsarukyan has been active in politics since 2003, founding and leading the Prosperous Armenia party, which has long been one of the country’s main opposition forces.

Despite a temporary step back from active politics, in 2025, he announced plans to participate in the 2026 parliamentary elections through the Armenia Proposal platform.

In recent years, he has been under investigation in Armenia over allegedly illegally acquired property.

By Jeyhun Aghazada