Corruption probe into former Armenian PM Hovik Abrahamyan completed

The Armenian Anti-Corruption Committee has completed an investigation into former Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, who faces multiple criminal charges, including abuse of office, illegal entrepreneurship and money laundering.

According to the investigation, during his tenure as minister of territorial administration, chief of the president’s staff and later as prime minister, Abrahamyan used his official powers to unlawfully acquire large plots of land in various regions of Armenia. Authorities allege that under his instructions, rigged auctions were organized, allowing him to purchase land in Dilijan (75,000 sq.m), Narek (120 hectares) and Mkhchyan (48.4 hectares) at prices significantly below market value.

These properties, removed from public ownership without legal justification, were later registered under the names of his relatives and associates to conceal their illicit origins. Many of the assets were eventually transferred to Abrahamyan’s wife and a company under his control.

Investigators also found that between 2006 and 2016, Abrahamyan was unlawfully involved in commercial activity, including exerting influence to benefit sand mining companies, one of which, Metsn Hovnan LLC, was allegedly linked to him through close associates. He is accused of effectively merging operations of this company with another mining firm, Avazahatak LLC, from which he reportedly profited around 230 million drams.

To obscure the origins of this income, Abrahamyan allegedly funneled the proceeds through a series of transactions, blending them with other funds and engaging in various legal and financial dealings to make them appear legitimate.

Environmental violations were also uncovered. Between 2014 and 2016, sand extraction was carried out in unauthorized sections of the Araks River, causing serious ecological damage, including soil degradation over nearly 6,000 sq.m and the drying of a 6-kilometer stretch of the riverbed, leading to the formation of a 307-hectare island near Armenia’s border.

Abrahamyan has been formally charged with abuse of office, illegal business activity and money laundering. Authorities have frozen assets belonging to him and his associates. The case has now been submitted to the supervising prosecutor with a recommendation to proceed to trial.