Former Armenian defense minister Vigen Sargsyan in US wanted by Armenia in money laundering case

Former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan has been declared wanted by Armenian law enforcement agencies in a money laundering case, days after investigators indicted him along with other former officials.

The case involves large-scale corruption and money laundering linked to property worth over 200 million drams.

A court approved the investigator’s motion to order pre-trial detention in absentia for Sargsyan, who is currently abroad. Sargsyan was subsequently declared wanted, the Investigative Committee said.

According to the Investigative Committee, former officials—including ex-Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, former Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan, his son Artyom Khachatryan, ex–Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, and several former university and business officials—are accused of abuse of official powers. Former rector of Brusov State University Gayane Gasparyan, former vice-rector Artur Avagyan, and former deputy director of the “Yerevan Mall” shopping center Harutyun Tadevosyan are also facing charges.

Vigen Sargsyan served as Defense Minister from 2016 to 2018 and previously served as Chief of Staff in the administration of Serzh Sargsyan. He was chairman of the university’s governing board at the time the alleged scheme was carried out. Armen Ashotyan served as Minister of Education and Science from 2009 to 2016.

Gagik Khachatryan served as Chairman of the State Revenue Committee from 2008 to 2014 and as Minister of Finance from 2014 to 2016.

Arrest warrants have been issued for all suspects.

Ashotyan was taken into custody, and a court approved his pre-trial detention for one month. A court rejected the request for pre-trial detention for Gagik Khachatryan, and he was released but banned from leaving the country pending trial. Gasparyan and Avagyan are also banned from leaving the country.

A court has yet to rule on pre-trial detention in absentia for Artyom Khachatryan and Harutyun Tadevosyan, both of whom are abroad.