ArmInfo. The criminal case against the former head of the Armenian Customs Committee Armen Avetisyan, accused of illegal business activities and the legalization of criminal proceeds in especially large amounts (money laundering), is still at the stage of preliminary investigation. The head of the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan told reporters on February 21.
As Vanetsyan recalled, back in November 2018, the son of Armen Avetisyan appealed to the government, declaring readiness to transfer the Golden Palace hotel complex in Tsakhkadzor to the state. At present, Artur Vanetsyan is not informed whether the process of transferring this property to the state has been completed, but, according to him, the criminal case is proceeding in a natural way. At the same time, the head of the National Security Service, referring to the relevant article of the RA Criminal Code, noted that under certain conditions, in the event of restoration of damage caused to the state, the criminal case can be terminated.
To recall, on November 28, then acting Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said that as a result of the fight against corruption, the family of the former head of the Armenian Customs Committee Armen Avetisyan recently appealed to the government, informing that it wants to give the Golden Palace complex in Tsakhkadzor to the state. "Apparently, the Avetisyans decided to take advantage of the opportunities of transitional justice," Pashinyan noted. According to him, if the process is completed, the hotel complex will be sold, and the funds received, which, in Pashinyan's estimations, will total $ 20 million, will be sent to the budget.