The Investigative Committee reports that in the Main Department for the Investigation of Economic Crimes and Smuggling, factual data has been obtained indicating that G.T. (Gagik Tsarukyan) organized a group of individuals who committed fraud and money laundering in particularly large amounts between 2022 and 2024.
"In particular, according to the data in the criminal case, members of the criminal group acting under the leadership of G.T. reached relevant agreements with Iranian citizens to develop trade relations between Iran and Armenia, within the framework of which joint legal entities were also established. Then, under the pretext of creating logistics for freight transportation between Iran and Armenia, acting through deception and abuse of trust, they committed theft of property in particularly large amounts, acquiring 52 vehicles, equipment, fuel, and various goods from a number of Iranian entrepreneurs who manage and operate businesses in Iran, and then, covering the imports under formal manifestations of economic activity, forged customs declarations and other official documents, with the prior intent to steal property worth approximately 21 million 72 thousand 827 US dollars, equivalent to about 8 billion 126 million 946 thousand 460 drams.
Subsequently, members of the criminal group, aiming to legalize the property obtained as a result of the aforementioned criminal activity, in order to conceal its criminal origin, forged import documents for Armenia, some of which were also sold based on forged documents, hiding the criminal origin of the stolen vehicles and other goods, mixing the proceeds from sales with their other incomes, thereby concealing the true nature of the origin of the property and monetary funds obtained through criminal means, giving them a legal appearance.
Additionally, G.T., being the actual beneficiary of a registered company in Armenia engaged in the import and sale of fuel, reached a preliminary criminal agreement with R.K. and organized and led the theft of 934 thousand 465 US dollars from Iranian citizen Y.I. within the framework of a fuel import transaction, mixing the proceeds with the legal turnover of his company, thereby concealing and disguising the true nature of the origin of the property and monetary funds obtained through criminal means.
Based on evidence indicating the commission of crimes, the investigator of the Main Department for the Investigation of Economic Crimes and Smuggling submitted motions to the supervising prosecutor regarding G.T. for criminal prosecution under Articles 46-255 (organizing fraud in particularly large amounts) and 46-296 (organizing money laundering in particularly large amounts) of the Criminal Code, as well as for similar articles concerning members of the criminal group, which were granted.
In the framework of the investigation of more than ten criminal cases regarding particularly large-scale fraud, money laundering, and tax evasion, simultaneous searches were conducted at more than 70 addresses in cooperation with employees of the NSS, GNS, and the police of Armenia, resulting in the discovery of documents and items of significance for the criminal case, including stolen vehicles.
G.T. and another member of the criminal group have been arrested for presentation to the court, and a decision has been made regarding the arrest of another member of the criminal group," the statement said.
