Tax authority probes Multi Group fuel stations

PanARMENIAN.Net - Inspections are underway at a fuel station operated by Multi Group, according to Factor.am .

Armenia's State Revenue Committee (SRC) said it had uncovered suspected tax violations by a company operating fuel stations in Kotayk Province and Yerevan, estimating the damage to the state at around 500 million drams.

According to the SRC, its Investigation and Operational Intelligence Department received information indicating that the company operating fuel stations on the Yerevan-Sevan highway in Verin Ptghni, Kotayk Province, and at 10/2 Gyurjyan Street in Yerevan had allegedly purchased fuel without proper documentation and sold it to consumers without issuing cash register receipts or recording the transactions in its tax accounts.

Authorities initially verified the company's business locations, the number of fuel dispensers, the locations of fuel storage tanks and office premises, while also conducting external surveillance as part of operational measures.

Based on a comprehensive analysis of the information obtained, investigators concluded that between 2023 and 2026 the company had purchased and sold various types of liquid fuel worth about 1.6 billion drams without proper documentation. To facilitate the scheme, a significant portion of the fuel station's actual turnover was allegedly left undocumented, with sales of gasoline not entered into cash registers and no fiscal receipts issued.

As a result, the company allegedly submitted distorted data in its tax filings, causing especially large-scale damage to the state estimated at approximately 500 million drams.

A report has been submitted to the Main Department for the Investigation of Economic Crimes and Smuggling of the Investigative Committee, which has opened criminal proceedings.

Beginning early on July 6, officers of the National Security Service, the State Revenue Committee and the Ministry of Internal Affairs conducted simultaneous searches at more than 70 locations, including the residence of businessman Gagik Tsarukyan and companies linked to him. Tsarukyan was arrested. On July 7, the Court of First Instance of the Avan and Nor Nork administrative districts considered his pretrial detention, ordering him held in custody for two months.