Armenian law-enforcement authorities have so far not divulged details of the incident involving Nver Tsarukian and his bodyguards that occurred at a casino in the resort town of Tsaghkadzor in October. One of them reportedly fired gunshots that did not injure anyone.
The men also took away footage of the incident filmed by the casino’s security cameras. It is still not clear whether the investigators have recovered the video.
Tsarukian Jr. left Armenia on what his lawyer called a business trip before being charged with “hooliganism and robbery.” The lawyer, Emin Khachatrian, refused to say on Tuesday whether he is planning to return home anytime soon. He continues to split his time between Russia and Belarus, Khachatrian told RFE/RL’s Armenian Service.
Armenia’s Investigative Committee claimed to have launched an international hunt for Never Tsarukian later in 2024. The law-enforcement agency declined to say whether it has asked authorities in Russia and Belarus to extradite him. His three bodyguards are expected to go on trial soon.
Gagik Tsarukian has not publicly commented on his son’s prosecution. The 68-year-old tycoon is the founding leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) that was the leading opposition force in the former Armenian parliament. Tsarukian challenged Prime Minister Nikol Pashinian and demanded his resignation before being arrested in September 2020 on vote buying charges rejected by him as politically motivated. The BHK leader was freed on bail one month later.
Tsarukian has kept a low profile since his party failed to win any parliament seats in the last general elections held in June 2021. In November 2023, the Armenian authorities moved to confiscate hundreds of millions of dollars worth of assets belonging to him and his family. They invoked a controversial law that allows them to seize money, properties and companies deemed to have been acquired illegally.
