Report: Tigran Sargsyan to Be Summoned by NSS

A report by the "Joughour” newspaper states that Armenian law enforcement agencies will soon summon former Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan, currently the Deputy Chairman of the Eurasian Development Bank, for questioning. The criminal case in which Sargsyan's name is mentioned is connected to the offshore scandal involving Cyprus.

Also involved in this case is Archbishop Navasard Kchoyan, the leader of the Ararat Diocese of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Businessman Paylak Hayrapetyan has accused them of impoverishing him. However, previous investigations resulted in businessman Ashot Sukiasyan being indicted, who testified years ago that without the knowledge of former Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan and Archbishop Kchoyan, he became a shareholder in a company opened offshore with their personal data to prevent the takeover of that company.

In post-revolutionary Armenia, when the case was investigated with a different motivation, the National Security Service (NSS) issued a statement on April 15, announcing that an indictment was filed against the priest who was the acting deputy of one of the dioceses of the Armenian Apostolic Church on April 13. The court chose to impose a travel restriction on him as a preventive measure.

According to official data, in the summer of 2010, he, with a person he had godfather-godson relationships with, hid and distorted the movements and ownership of an investment reportedly made in diamond mines owned by him on the African continent, amounting to $12 million.

It is evident that the official statement referenced the infamous offshore scandal, which led to Ashot Sukiasyan being exonerated and freed after six years in custody. Now, according to the "Joughour” newspaper, former Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan is to be questioned by law enforcement as a witness.

All attempts to reach Tigran Sargsyan for comment yesterday were unsuccessful. We also sought clarification from the NSS regarding when and in what capacity Sargsyan would be summoned for questioning, but they later advised to submit the inquiry in writing. The "Joughour” newspaper has complied and is awaiting a response.