Artsakh Prosecutor's Office Responds to Levon Hayrapetyan's Daughter: Pre-Investigation to Resume

The Artsakh Prosecutor's Office has announced that a decision will soon be made regarding the resumption of the pre-investigation in connection with the criminal case. This statement came in response to an article published yesterday on the website "Iravunq.com" titled "How the Great Philanthropist Levon Hayrapetyan's Property is Being Embezzled: Where Are the Artsakh Authorities Looking?"

The article presented information regarding the theft of philanthropist Levon Hayrapetyan's inheritance and violations of his heirs' rights. The announcement indicated that a decision would be made soon regarding the resumption of the pre-investigation in the criminal case, during which all possible measures provided by criminal procedural legislation would be taken to protect Levon Hayrapetyan's heirs' property rights, uncover legal violations, and hold accountable those who committed criminal acts.

It is noteworthy that Levon Hayrapetyan's daughter, Zarouhi Hayrapetyan, has addressed an open letter to the President of Artsakh, Araik Harutyunyan, requesting support in recognizing her father Levon Hayrapetyan's property rights and in stopping the illegal use of the property by a group of individuals.

Levon Hayrapetyan, originally from Artsakh, was one of the largest investors in the region. He funded the reconstruction of the famous 13th-century Gandzasar Monastery complex. With his assistance, a wood processing factory, recreational areas, and schools were built in Artsakh. He also allocated $7 million for the construction of a reservoir in Martakert.

The 68-year-old Levon Hayrapetyan passed away on October 18, 2017, in a rehabilitation colony. He had been arrested in 2014 and sentenced to four years in prison. The basis of the criminal case against him stemmed from the testimonies of former Bashkortostan senator Igor Izmestyev and his mother. According to their statements, Hayrapetyan had taken $700,000 from Izmestyev's mother in exchange for assurances to assist in reducing her son's sentence, but he did not fulfill that promise. A court ruling found Levon Hayrapetyan guilty of fraud involving $700,000.