Armenian Prosecutor's Office silent on diamond smuggling linked to MP Khachatur Sukiasyan

On June 23, Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) reported that diamonds stolen from the Russian mining giant Alrosa were smuggled into Armenia and supplied to a company whose beneficiary is Khachatur Sukiasyan, a businessman and an MP from Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party.

On the same day, Panorama.am submitted an inquiry to the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office, seeking clarification on several issues:

1. Whether the Prosecutor General’s Office had been informed of the case by Russian authorities prior to the FSB’s announcement.

2. What steps, if any, had been taken by the Prosecutor’s Office following the FSB report.

3. Details about the case, including the quantity of diamonds involved, the number of Armenian citizens allegedly implicated and any preventive measures against them.

4. Whether the case could provide grounds for requesting the parliament to strip Sukiasyan of immunity.

For three months now, the Prosecutor General’s Office has not responded to any of the questions in violation of the deadlines set under Armenia’s Law on Freedom of Information.

The Public Relations Department of the Prosecutor's Office recently told Panorama.am that an inquiry had been launched following the FSB report, promising to share the findings later.