Archbishop Navassard Kchoyan Summoned by the Asset Forfeiture Department

The leader of the Ararat Diocese, Archbishop Navassard Kchoyan, has been summoned by the Asset Forfeiture Department of the Attorney General's Office for property of illegal origin. This information has been confirmed by the Azdarar system.

A study concerning the property was conducted in the Asset Forfeiture Department, resulting in the preparation of a summary report. From the moment Kchoyan received the notification, he is required to present himself at the Attorney General's Office within one month, to review the case materials, submit his position, and provide a declaration.

It is noteworthy that within the framework of a criminal case being investigated by the Investigative Department of the NSS, on April 13, 2020, Archbishop Navassard Kchoyan was charged with large-scale fraud and money laundering. The accusations against Kchoyan were connected to the much-publicized offshore scandal in Cyprus several years ago, which also involved former Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan.

Approximately six years ago, Ashot Sukiasyan, who had a godfather-godchild relationship with the archbishop, was sentenced to 16 years in prison in connection with this case. Sukiasyan was released in 2020 as a result of a mitigation of his sentence. In 2022, Archbishop Navassard Kchoyan was also acquitted in this criminal case.