"Zhoghovurd": The Artsakh businessman who hosted Pashinyan is involved in money laundering

The “Zhoghovurd” daily writes: “The RA Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, in response to a question from MP Taguhi Tovmasyan, announced in the National Assembly, without naming names, that there is a “money laundering proceeding” against the businessman whose part of his private house on the shore of Lake Sevan was demolished at the request of the prosecutor’s office.” The prosecutor did not elaborate on who that businessman is and what his status is, but according to the “Zhoghovurd” daily, it refers to the Artsakh businessman Arman Hakobjanyan, about whom an official report was submitted to the prosecutor’s office on December 30 of last year.

The “Zhoghovurd” daily learned that on December 30 of last year, a report was submitted to the Prosecutor General by the Veles Human Rights NGO. It concerns the embezzlement of funds from the “Artsakh Investment Fund” and their subsequent legalization in the Republic of Armenia.”

The author of the program, Marina Poghosyan, wrote that “Arman Hakobjanyan was a member of the board of trustees of the Artsakh Investment Fund, an advisor to the State Minister of the Republic of Armenia, Ruben Vardanyan. In a number of transactions, he was the head of the RA State Protection Service, the representative of the famous Grigori Sarkisyan’s son, Bako Sahakyan, on special assignments, along with Karen Sargsyan. He was also under the high patronage of the Major General of the Defense Army of the Republic of Armenia, Samvel Karapetyan (General Oganovsky), and initially in the Republic of Armenia, using Oganovsky’s connections, he continued his privileged activities already in the territory of the Republic of Armenia.”

According to the program, “in order to seamlessly embezzle the actual funds and hide the movement of funds, on April 27, 2002 "Kapavor" LLC, registered in the Republic of Armenia, is founded in Armenia, the predecessor of which was "Dorkap Plus" CJSC, registered in the Republic of Karabakh, and the 100% shareholder of which was "Kapavor" LLC, registered in the Republic of Armenia."

What do the Hakobjanyans have

The shareholders of "Kapavor" LLC were Arman Hakobjanyan, the latter's brother Arayik Hakobjanyan. It should be noted that the "Kapavor" LLC, registered in the Republic of Karabakh, did not fulfill its loan obligations of 36,822,257 AMD to the State Treasury.

➢ "Asphaltmaker" OJSC, founded on 06.09.2002, registered in Yerevan, Shirak St. 47. ➢ “Asphaltmaker” LLC, founded on 16.04.2007, registered at 47 Shirak St., Yerevan, the founders of which were Arman Hakobjanyan’s father, Marat Hakobjanyan, his brother, Arayik Hakobjanyan, and a certain Garry Grigoryan, with different shares. Later, the shares were distributed between the latter’s mother, Lira Galstyan, and Arman Hakobjanyan. ➢ “Asphaltmaker” LLC ARHK, founded on 29.05.2008, registered at 47 Shirak St., Yerevan. ➢ “Kapavor” LLC, founded on 12.10.2023, registered at 47 Shirak St., Yerevan. 29.12.2023 was renamed “Kap Group” LLC, 100% of which was owned by Arman Hakobjanyan, director - Grachik Grigoriy Sarkisyan (this person is also an affiliated person of Arman Hakobjanyan in other organizations). ➢ “Kapavor Construction” LLC, founded on 21.07.2023, registered at 47 Shirak St., Yerevan, 100% shareholder - Arman Hakobjanyan, director - the same Grachik Grigoriy Sarkisyan. ➢ “Kapavor Shin” LLC, founded on 14.03.2022, registered at 4, 2, Tsovagyugh 1, Gegharkunik region, RA. It is noteworthy that the above-mentioned organization was founded by a certain Marat Rubik Gevorgyan with a 100% share worth 50,000 AMD. Two months later, the share of this organization was transferred to a certain Gurgen Rudik Hambardzumyan, after which 2 months later, on July 4, 2023, Arman Hakobjanyan became the owner of a 100% share of the same organization worth 1,005,050,000 AMD. ➢ “Platinum Garden” LLC, founded on June 7, 2023, registered at 47/12 Shirak St., Yerevan, participants: Arman Hakobjanyan and since March 1, 2024, Erik Danielyan. ➢ “Family Garden” LLC, founded on 28.11.2022, registered at the address: Yerevan, Shirak str. 47/12, business address: Armenia, Armavir region, Baghramyan community, Talvorik village, 100% participant: Arman Hakobjanyan. ➢ “Perfect Garden” LLC, founded on 29.06.2023, registered at the address: Yerevan, Nor Nork, 7 zngv., 2, apt. 18, business address: Armavir region, Dalarik village. ➢ “Gas Stream” LLC, founded on 27.09.2022, registered at the address: Kotayk, Verin Ptghni, Sevan-Yerevan highway 20. ➢ “Flame Gas” LLC, founded on 09/27/2022, registered at 8, Central 2nd St., Armavir Region, Argavand. ➢ “Gaz Punt” LLC, founded on 09/27/2022, registered at 1/183, Zovuni, Yeghvard, Kotayk Region. ➢ “Gaz Shen” LLC, founded on 09/27/2022, registered at 2/3, Azatashen 3rd St., Ararat. ➢ “Dghiak Hotel” LLC, founded on 12/09/2010, registered at 50 Sayat-Nova St., Dilijan, business address: 37 Achanyan St., Avan. ➢ “Eco Top” LLC, founded on 04/19/2021, registered at 79 Zoryan St., Apt., Lori, Vanadzor. 99, business address: Yerevan, Malatia-Sebastia, Monte Melkonyan 24/1.Pashinyan hosted the businessman, admiring his 180 hectares of peach orchards

However, this story also has an obvious political layer. In early April 2026, the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan visited the Armavir region, where he toured the “smart orchards” belonging to Arman Hakobjanyan.

During the visit, Hakobjanyan announced that “about 3 billion drams were invested with their own funds” for the implementation of the program, and the rest was implemented within the framework of state support and subsidy programs.

Against this background, it is actively discussed in political circles that such high-level visits can be viewed as a signal of patronage. However, Anna Vardapetyan’s statement in the National Assembly at the same time contained a clear message: there will be no privileged people before the law.

And in this situation, a contradictory picture is forming: on the one hand, serious accusations of embezzlement and money laundering, and on the other hand, the businessman’s public activism and high-level political visits.

If the prosecutor's statement is consistent, this case could become an indicator of whether political patronage is really excluded in Armenia or not.

However, one thing remains key: if the suspicions presented are confirmed legally, then we are talking about serious crimes, and in that case, responsibility should be inevitable, regardless of any connection or circumstance.