The Anti-Corruption Court today, February 24, presided over by Judge Narine Avagyan, held a hearing on the case of seizing allegedly illegally acquired property belonging to Alexander Sargsyan, the brother of Armenia’s 3rd President Serzh Sargsyan, his son Hayk Sargsyan, and others.
According to Iravaban.net, a new prosecutor was involved in the case. Prosecutor Anna Harutyunyan from the Department of Seizure of Illegally Acquired Property presented the original certificate to the court. The presiding judge announced that they could begin the first procedural activity, noting that until now they had not carried out even the first procedural action, nor clarified the subject of the lawsuit and its factual and legal grounds.
Anna Harutyunyan presented the lawsuit: “Honorable Court, on September 8, 2023, the Prosecutor General’s Office received a letter from the National Security Service stating that operational data had been received regarding several valuable properties belonging to former National Assembly Deputy Alexander Azat Sargsyan, his wife, and sons. These properties were allegedly acquired during Alexander Sargsyan’s term in office and, most likely, with funds illegally obtained by him. An investigation was initiated at the Prosecutor General’s Office.”
She presented which properties belonging to Alexander Sargsyan are considered illegally acquired according to the prosecutor’s office. In Kotayk region: a residential house, a vacation house, and land plots. In Yerevan: 2 apartments registered under Alexander Sargsyan’s wife, Avriga Sargsyan. In Yerevan: a garage and basement area, also registered under Avriga Sargsyan. In various Yerevan addresses: 10 building spaces registered under Hayk Sargsyan. In Yerevan: a land plot registered under Hayk Sargsyan.
In Tsaghkadzor: rights to purchase 2 projected apartments under Alexander Sargsyan’s name, 3 Mercedes vehicles and 1 Cadillac registered under Alexander Sargsyan. 100% ownership of “Gandzaghbyur” LLC registered under Alexander Sargsyan. 100% ownership of “Hana-Trans” LLC registered under Alexander Sargsyan. 100% ownership of “Hana-Service” LLC registered under Alexander Sargsyan. 79.5% ownership of “Aknadzor” LLC registered under Narek Sargsyan.
Prosecutor Anna Harutyunyan also presented that Alexander Sargsyan made five transfers abroad in 2014 to acquire property, which cannot be justified by legal income: “According to the investigation results, by
the end of 2024, the balance of illegally acquired funds amounted to 327,106,557 drams, which is subject to seizure. In addition, 3,457,322,187 drams that have not been justified by state income, have illegal origin, and during the investigation were transferred to a bona fide acquirer or cannot be identified are also subject to seizure,” said the prosecutor.
Anna Harutyunyan also noted that all property registered under Hayk and Sona (Hayk’s wife) Sargsyan, which the prosecutor’s office considers illegally acquired, should be seized in favor of the Republic of Armenia.
The prosecutor requested time to answer questions from the respondents’ representatives and asked for the hearing to be postponed.
Representative Varazdat Harutyunyan said they were understanding of the situation but added that it would have been more appropriate to present the basis of the claim at a court session when the prosecutor would be able to answer questions. He did not object to the motion, saying there were questions, but if the prosecutor could answer only half of them and not the other half, it wouldn’t be expedient to ask questions.
The court instructed the prosecutor to submit the calculation files to the court and to the respondents’ representatives by February 28 inclusive.
The hearing was postponed until April 1 at 15:00.
Hasmik Sargsyan
