Former Armenian education minister, six others facing detention in corruption probe

Armenian investigators have ordered the detention of seven individuals, including former Education and Science Minister Armen Ashotyan, as part of a criminal investigation into alleged abuse of office and money laundering linked to the transfer of state-owned property valued at nearly 200 million drams.

In a statement released on Friday, the Investigative Committee said evidence obtained in the case indicated that Ashotyan, who served as education minister from 2009 to 2016, acted together with several officials and associates to facilitate the transfer of a 451.1-square-metre property in central Yerevan from state ownership through a corrupt scheme.

According to investigators, the property, located on Pushkin Street and belonging to the Brusov State University, was unlawfully removed from the state's asset portfolio and transferred for non-educational use to individuals linked to a senior public official.

Prosecutors allege that former Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan, his son Artyom Khachatryan and an associate subsequently concealed the property's true ownership and laundered its alleged criminal proceeds through a series of transactions before registering the asset under Artyom Khachatryan's name.

Criminal charges have been brought against seven suspects, including counts of abuse of office, aiding and abetting abuse of office, large-scale money laundering by an organized group and related offences.

The Investigative Committee said arrest warrants were issued to bring the accused before court.

Local media reported that those facing detention also include former Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, former Brusov University Rector Gayane Gasparyan, former Vice-Rector Artur Ayvazyan and businessman Harutyun Tadevosyan.