A Criminal Case Has Been Opened Against Lukashenko's Armenian Friend

On suspicion of tax evasion on a particularly large scale.

A criminal case has been opened against Armenian businessman and politician Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the “Prosperous Armenia” party and a friend of Alexander Lukashenko, a criminal case has been opened on suspicion of tax evasion on an especially large scale, reports the Armenian Service "Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty".

Investigators have not yet disclosed the details of the charges. As a preventive measure, Tsarukyan has been barred from leaving the country.

Meanwhile, the politician’s attorney Emil Khachatryan stated that he considers the prosecution unlawful and unfounded. According to him, Tsarukyan has no connection to the management of the companies through which, according to the investigation, tax violations may have been committed.


In addition, the lawyer denied reports that the politician was allegedly prevented from leaving the country. According to him, Tsarukyan and his wife had planned a short trip to the UAE for personal reasons, but he himself decided not to fly after additional document checks began at the airport.

In the parliamentary elections held on June 7, his party "Prosperous Armenia" failed to enter parliament, as it was unable to clear the 4% vote threshold.

It should be noted that after his election victory, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the country’s opposition forces marginal and promised to achieve their “political destruction” within the next five years. According to him, opposition leaders, including Robert Kocharyan, Gagik Tsarukyan, and Samvel Karapetyan, should face criminal charges and end up in prison.

72-year-old Gagik Tsarukyan is one of the richest people in Armenia. He and Alexander Lukashenko maintain close ties—Tsarukyan calls him “his friend.” The Belarusian Embassy in Armenia is located next to Tsarukyan’s mansion in the village of Arindzh on the outskirts of Yerevan. In January 2024, Viktor Lukashenko visited Tsarukyan in his capacity as head of the Armenian Olympic Committee.

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