Erik Aleksanyan, lawyer for Izmirlian Medical Center director Armen Charchyan, told journalists that, according to the factual circumstances of the case, the medical center allegedly purchased goods and medical supplies at inflated prices from companies purportedly affiliated with senior clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church, Panorama.am reported.
Early in the morning, searches were carried out in the offices of Charchyan, as well as the deputy directors for medical and financial affairs.
“A criminal case has been initiated for alleged malicious tax evasion and money laundering. The proceedings were launched back on October 9, 2025. The factual circumstances of the case are as follows: allegedly, from 2015 to 2025, Izmirlian Medical Center purchased goods and medical supplies for its needs from companies allegedly affiliated with senior clergy of the Armenian Apostolic Church at higher prices, despite supposedly having the opportunity to procure them at lower prices from importers and manufacturers.
Allegedly, this generated large profits for those companies, which are said to be affiliated with high-ranking clergy, thereby avoiding taxes on an especially large scale and subsequently legalizing the corresponding funds through certain transactions,” the lawyer detailed.
He emphasized that there are no specific data in the case regarding particular senior clergy members and that, in his view, no such affiliation exists. He added that numerical indicators cannot be disclosed due to the secrecy of the preliminary investigation.
According to the lawyer, the ongoing actions are being carried out “within the framework of a campaign against the Church.”
He noted that the court’s search warrant authorized the seizure only of accounting and financial documents and electronic storage devices, yet money was also taken from Charchyan’s office.
Aleksanyan also stated that the report prompting the case had been filed by an officer of the National Security Service.
“The search decision indicates that the report was based exclusively on operational information. Let us note that operational information does not constitute evidence in procedural terms and has no evidentiary value. In these circumstances, we are dealing with bankrupt factual data,” he said.
He added that there are currently no grounds to detain or arrest Armen Charchyan, and that the investigative body is not planning such measures.
In 2021, Charchyan became a member of parliament from the Hayastan faction following elections. He was later detained and arrested in a criminal case related to allegedly coercing Izmirlian Medical Center employees to participate in the snap parliamentary elections held on June 20, 2021. He was released in December 2021 and resigned his mandate in 2023, stating he wished to return to his normal life.
