On June 5, 2025 the Prosecutor the prosecutor approved the indictment on A. A., involved in money laundering in complicity with M. M., the former RA Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to the Holy See and transferred the materials to the First Instance Criminal Court of Yerevan City. 

In the result of evident received in the course of investigative actions under the supervision of the Department for Combating Economic Crimes of the RA Prosecutor General’s Office, public criminal prosecution was initiated against A. A. on August 6, 2024.  

It was proved and confirmed that A. A. was involved in money laundering with priory consent of M. M. and his proxy L. A., he acquired, used and actually possessed and managed particularly large amounts of property obtained through criminal means. 

In particular, M. M., having held the position of Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of Armenia to the Holy See from March 9, 2013 to 2018, Ambassador of Armenia to the Sovereign Military Order of Malta from 2014 to 2018, and Ambassador of Armenia to the Republic of Portugal from 2017-2018, used his authority of Ambassador and his connections with the Armenian authorities, both personally and through his proxy L.  A., conducted negotiations with A. A., with the help of A. A. and with the authorized person of Rosneft (hereinafter referred to as the Company) on ensuring the Company's entry into the Armenian market without obstacles, ensuring the sales volumes of petroleum products to be supplied by the Company, and occupying a dominant position in the market (details: here).

1. M., using the influence coming from his positions, the factor of being a member of the family of the President of the Republic of Armenia and the influence conditioned by it for mercenary purposes, reached an agreement with the same persons to acquire a 22% share in the Company in case of ensuring its entry into the Armenian market. Having received an agreement, M. M. contributed to the establishment of the Company in the Republic of Armenia through the Head of the Administration of the President of the Republic of Armenia V. S., as well as relevant organizations operating in the oil products market of the Republic of Armenia.

Agreements were concluded between both the Company and the RA authorities, Rosneft Armenia CJSC, established in the Republic of Armenia on December 12, 2013. Then, within the framework of the agreement L. A. founded the company “OIL TECHNO LP” in Scotland, 66% of which were actually owned by M. M., and 34% by A. A.

“OIL TECHNO LP” company became a 33% shareholder of “Rosneft Techno S A” registered in Luxembourg (100% shareholder of “Rosneft Armenia” CJSC), as a result of which M. M. actually owned a 22% share of “Rosneft Techno SA” worth at least 5 million USD, and A. A. - an 11% share. After completing the mentioned process, M. M. participated in the management of the company personally and through his proxy L. A.

March 11, 2016, Rosneft Armenia CJSC distributed a dividend, which amounted to 4 million 455 thousand US dollars for the Armenian side. In this regard, M.M., within the framework of the criminal agreement previously reached with L. A. and A. A., on March 11, 2016, through L. A., received from Rosneft Armenia CJSC a dividend of 2 million 894 thousand US dollars equivalent to AMD 1 billion 419 million 883 thousand and A. A. received a dividend of 1 million 561 thousand US dollars.

Then, on December 27, 2017, an agreement was concluded between L. A. and A. A., and on February 2, 2018, an agreement was signed, based on which A. A. acquired 66% share of the “OIL TECHNO LP” company, which was acquired through criminal means, registered in the name of L. A. but actually owned by M. M., for AMD 2 billion 411 million 550 thousand, equivalent to 5 million US dollars, as a result of which he became a 100% shareholder of the “OIL TECHNO LP” organization.

1. M., realizing that 2 million 894 thousand and 5 million US dollars from the aforementioned transactions were obtained as a result of criminal activity, ultimately received the aforementioned amounts in parts through L. A.
2. A., possessing 100% of the shares of the “OIL TECHNO LP” organization already acquired through criminal means, realizing that they were obtained through criminal means, being already a 33% shareholder of the company that entered the Armenian market through them, on December 27, 2019, sold 100% of the shares of the “OIL TECHNO LP” organization to another organization for 7 million 224 thousand US dollars and on January 31, 2020, received 7 million 224 thousand US dollars, equivalent to 3 billion 457 million 406 thousand drams. Then, the specified amount was first transferred to the account of the “OIL TECHNO LP” organization in one of the banks, of which 1 million US dollars was transferred to the account of “Oil Techno” CJSC, formulating it as a loan, ultimately helping M. M. and L.A. to avoid criminal from liability.

Thus, A. A., with the prior consent with M. M. and L. A., committed money laundering, transferred, acquired, used, actually possessed and disposed of property obtained through criminal means, worth a total of AMD 3 billion 457 million 406 thousand, equivalent to 7 million 224 thousand US dollars.

On June 5, 2025, the prosecutor approved the indictment against A. A. and transferred the proceedings materials to the Yerevan Criminal Court of General Jurisdiction.

Notice:  A person charged with any crime shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code—by the judgment came into legal force.