The removal of foreign athletes from the Armenian National Olympic Committee's Olympic Village training base could lead to an international scandal, Prosperous Armenia Party spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan said while speaking to reporters outside the home of party leader and Armenian National Olympic Committee President Gagik Tsarukyan.

“We are witnessing a disgraceful precedent because athletes from various sports, who had come to Armenia for training camps ahead of international competitions, were removed from their rooms at the Olympic Village. This is an international scandal. The International Olympic Committee and the relevant international sports federations will naturally pay attention to this,” Tonoyan said, according to Sputnik Armenia.

She stressed that the developments are affecting Armenia's international reputation.

Tonoyan also said that the operations of dozens of companies have effectively been paralyzed and that thousands of employees are unable to enter their workplaces.

According to her, simultaneous searches are being conducted at Ararat Cement, Multi Stone, Multi Tabak, the Yerevan Ararat Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory, the Multi Wellness complex, and numerous hotels, including Multi Rest in Tsaghkadzor and Multi Grand Pharaon in Verin Ptghni.

Earlier, it was reported that masked special forces officers had entered Tsarukyan's residence. It was later announced that investigative actions were also being carried out at various properties linked to Tsarukyan, as well as at the homes of executives of companies belonging to the Multi Group concern.

Searches are also taking place at the Olympic Village, where athletes from several countries are staying for training camps.

The Investigative Committee has said searches are being conducted at more than 70 locations.

On June 9, Tsarukyan was prevented from leaving Armenia at Zvartnots International Airport. Public criminal prosecution was initiated against him on charges of tax evasion on an especially large scale. According to party spokesperson Iveta Tonoyan, Tsarukyan had planned a two- to three-day trip abroad with his wife. It was later announced that, after criminal proceedings were initiated against him, he was placed under a travel restriction requiring him not to leave the country.

On June 25, it became known that a request had been submitted to the Central Electoral Commission seeking to strip Tsarukyan of his parliamentary immunity. The commission said the request would most likely be considered after July 4.