Armenia's Investigative Committee has confirmed that former Chairman of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) Gagik Khachatryan is already in custody at the Committee, and a motion will soon be submitted to court for his detention.
The criminal proceedings have been initiated on cases of particularly large-scale bribery and money laundering, and urgent investigative actions have been carried out within their framework. Searches were conducted not only in the apartments of Gagik Khachatryan but also in those of his son, as well as in the offices and branches of about 21 companies affiliated with them.
The Investigative Committee has already issued a decision to arrest G.Kh., which will be presented to the court.
This case clearly warrants exceptional attention, as such a step against a former head of the SRC is rare and sends a signal to all those who have held or currently hold high offices. Notably, the search list includes some 21 companies, which points to the broad scope of the investigation, though it remains unclear whether these organizations played any role in the alleged schemes or have ended up in the probe's orbit merely through formal ties.
At the same time, a question arises as to whether this case is an isolated incident or a manifestation of a larger systemic issue. Since the court has yet to examine the motion for detention, the coming days will clarify whether the investigation has sufficient grounds and what position Gagik Khachatryan's defense will take. Either way, the case's progress is important to follow, as its outcomes could affect perceptions of accountability in the upper echelons of state governance.
