On 24 August 2026, the Prosecutor initiated public criminal prosecution against R.K., the second President of the Republic of Armenia, for abuse of official powers (3 counts), receiving bribes on an especially large scale (2 counts) and money laundering on an especially large scale (4 counts). The Prosecutor also initiated public criminal prosecution against nine other persons, including S.K., the son of the second President of the Republic of Armenia R.K.; S.S., former Minister of Defence of the Republic of Armenia; A.M., former Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia; G.B., former Mayor of Yerevan; S.M., a shareholder of “Local Developers” LLC; A.O., who previously held the position of Director of the Kond Private Houses Administration and headed “Aygedzor” LLC, which was engaged in construction activities; as well as A.O.’s wife and two daughters.

Within the framework of the criminal proceedings investigated by the Anti-Corruption Committee, it was established that R.K., while serving as President of the Republic of Armenia from 1998 to 2008, acting in complicity with a number of persons and guided by personal and private interests, used his official powers to transfer state-owned property of especially large value to himself and persons and companies affiliated with him on favourable terms, including at prices substantially below market value and without public competitive procedures, as well as with the purpose of concealing the criminal origin of such property and giving a lawful appearance to its acquisition.

In particular:

R.K. and A.O., who previously held the position of Director of the Kond Private Houses Administration, reached a prior agreement to acquire a number of valuable properties belonging to the State through processes organised with the involvement of public officials, at prices substantially below market value and without competitive procedures.

R.K., continuing his criminal activity with A.O., in complicity with other persons, acquired rights to immovable property located at 8 Paronyan street, Yerevan, through a company affiliated with them.

Continuing the implementation of their criminal intent, R.K. and his associate A.O. acquired, at a price below market value and without obstacles, the “Kaputak Sevan” Sanatorium CJSC, owned by the Republic of Armenia, in the names of themselves and their family members, as well as persons and legal entities affiliated with them.

While serving as President of the Republic of Armenia from 1998 to 2008, R.K., with the intention of acquiring in the name of his son the non-alienable plot of land belonging to the “Olympic Reserve Tennis Youth Sports School” SNCO, located at 7/1 Tsitsernakaberd Highway, Yerevan, with an area of 29,033 sq. m, together with the 1,705 sq. m building situated thereon, ensured that officials under his authority prepared a draft Government decision, pursuant to which the said property was alienated by direct sale to “Kinetic” LLC, an entity affiliated with R.K.’s son S.K., for disproportionate consideration of AMD 12,267,000.

While serving as President of the Republic of Armenia from 1998 to 2008, R.K., with the purpose of accepting a bribe on an especially large scale, reached an agreement with representatives of “Piazza Grande” LLC, which operated in the Republic of Armenia. As a result, through the abuse of powers by a number of officials who were subordinate to R.K., the premises occupied by the “Officers’ House” building, a historical and cultural monument, located at 20 Vazgen Sargsyan street, Yerevan (currently 10 V. Sargsyan Street), as well as the unfinished building located at 16 Nalbandyan street, Yerevan, were alienated to “Piazza Grande” LLC by way of direct sale in violation of the requirements prescribed by law.

While serving as President of the Republic of Armenia from 1998 to 2008, R.K. received a bribe on an especially large scale in exchange for using his official position to perform an unlawful act in favour of the bribe-giver: ownership of a 30% share in a commercial organisation was registered in the name of his son, S.K.

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.