Publication on MP's Involvement in Smuggling Sent to Police

The publication regarding smuggled cigarettes has been forwarded by the Prosecutor's Office to the Criminal Police for the purpose of preparing materials under criminal procedural law and resolving the matter. This was stated by Gor Abrahamyan, the advisor to the Prosecutor General of Armenia on media affairs, in response to a query from "Factinfo." Previously, we reported that Russian law enforcement officials had seized an aircraft transporting 40 tons of smuggled cigarettes from Yerevan. Following this news, reports emerged in the media and on social networks suggesting that the brother-in-law of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, MP Hrach Hakobyan from the My Step faction, was behind this smuggling operation. However, he hastily denied this information.

According to "INFOPORT," the cigarettes were produced in a factory owned by Vardan Harutyunyan, the former head of the State Revenue Committee. The perpetrator and organizer of the idea to export the cigarettes to Russia is Aram Khranyan, the brother-in-law of criminal figure Khachatur Sukiasyan, who is known by the nickname "Aramcho." He has been involved in various criminal cases over the years, has been convicted multiple times, and has served time in a U.S. prison. Recently, after deteriorating relations with Russia-based criminal figures, he received assistance from Khachatur Sukiasyan, who mediated with the Armenian authorities to facilitate Aram Khranyan's return to Armenia. This mediation was accepted.

An former member of Yerevan's council stated that by exporting cigarettes through smuggling, a portion of the revenues enters the state budget, and according to credible rumors, this amounts to around $15 million per month, totaling approximately $150-$170 million annually.

Political technologist Armen Badalyan, in conversation with "Factinfo," noted that there are many questions regarding what kind of cigarettes were involved, where they were headed, and whose pockets were benefiting from these funds. He questioned whether this was the first instance it had happened, how an airplane could fly from Armenia during a state of emergency while smuggling goods, especially since aircraft are allowed to leave only with the Prime Minister's knowledge during such conditions. "Therefore, it raises the question of whether the Prime Minister was aware that this was smuggled tobacco or if he was misled. It is also necessary to understand why this occurred now and what it indicates, whether the Russian authorities are raising other questions," said Armen Badalyan.