Ararat brandy plant director arrested over alleged tax evasion

PanARMENIAN.Net - Arman Davtyan, director of the Yerevan Ararat Brandy, Wine and Vodka Plant, has been arrested on charges of failing to pay taxes on an especially large scale, the Investigative Committee said, according to Armenpress.

A new public criminal prosecution has been initiated against Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the Prosperous Armenia party, under Article 290 of the Criminal Code on charges of tax evasion linked to the Yerevan Ararat Brandy, Wine and Vodka Plant. His lawyer, Emin Khachatryan, disclosed the development, Sputnik Armenia reports.

“This case is even more absurd because Mr. Tsarukyan, since 2003, when he was elected a member of parliament, has placed all his businesses under management and could not have had any involvement in managing them,” the lawyer said.

Since early morning on July 6, employees of the National Security Service, State Revenue Committee and Interior Ministry police have conducted simultaneous searches at more than 70 addresses, including Tsarukyan’s mansion and companies belonging to him. Tsarukyan was arrested. Since early morning on July 7, the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan’s Avan and Nor Nork administrative districts has considered the issue of Tsarukyan’s preventive measure. By the end of the day, it became known that he had been remanded in custody for two months.