https://news.am/en/news/1048218

In one of the criminal proceedings, the Investigative Committee has obtained data indicating that a number of individuals led by Gagik Tsarukyan allegedly committed large-scale fraud and large-scale money laundering in 2022–2024.

In particular, according to the data available in the criminal proceedings, members of the criminal group acting under the leadership of G. Ts., with the aim of developing Iran-Armenia trade ties, reached relevant agreements with persons who are citizens of the Islamic Republic of Iran, within the framework of which they also established joint legal entities. Then, under the guise of creating an Iran-Armenia logistics cargo transportation link, acting through deception and abuse of trust, they acquired from companies managed by a number of entrepreneurs in the Islamic Republic of Iran and operating there, and imported into the Republic of Armenia, 52 units of vehicles, equipment, fuel, and various goods, after which they forged documents and stole property with a total value of about 8 billion 126 million 946 thousand 460 drams, equivalent to 21 million 72 thousand 827 dollars.

The members of the criminal group then concealed the criminal origin of the vehicles and other goods stolen by fraud.

In addition, G. Ts., being the real beneficiary of a limited liability company registered in Armenia, having entered into a prior criminal conspiracy with R. K., who is engaged in the import and sale of fuel, organized and directed the theft by deception of funds in an especially large amount—934 thousand 465 dollars—from IRI citizen Yu. I. within the framework of a fuel import transaction carried out by the latter, after which he mixed the money obtained as a result with the lawful turnover of the limited liability company he headed, thereby concealing the true nature of the origin of the property and funds obtained by criminal means.

As part of the preliminary investigation in more than a dozen criminal proceedings being investigated on the facts of large-scale fraud, large-scale money laundering, and large-scale tax evasion, searches were conducted at more than 70 addresses jointly with officers of the National Security Service, the State Revenue Committee, and the police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, as a result of which documents and items significant to the criminal proceedings were discovered, including stolen vehicles.

G. Ts. and another participant in the criminal group have been detained for the purpose of being brought before the court, and a decision has been made to detain another participant in the criminal group.