Former General Prosecutor of Armenia Aghvan Hovsepyan is accused of illegal business activities, bribery, and money laundering.

According to the investigation, Aghvan Hovsepyan, while holding the position of Prosecutor General and Chairman of the Investigative Committee, managed multiple enterprises. Hovsepyan held the post of Prosecutor General of Armenia from March 18, 2004 to September 13, 2013, and was Chairman of the Investigative Committee from July 18, 2014 to June 11, 2018, according to the press service of the Special Investigation Service of Armenia on 7 September.

"According to the materials of the case, Hovsepyan received a bribe on an especially large scale - 190 million drams (10 drams = 0.02 dollars), and misappropriated property in the amount of 800 million drams by deception. In addition, Hovsepyan legalised the money received by criminal means in the amount of 1 billion 299 million 404 thousand 414 drams,” said an employee of the investigative service.

Aghvan Hovsepyan was charged under Article 310 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity), Article 311 part 4, paragraph 2 (taking bribes), Article 178 Part 3, paragraph 1 (fraud) and Article 190 Part 3, paragraph 1 (legalisation of income, obtained illegally). He was detained, the department said.

Recall that Hovsepyan resigned from his post in the Investigative Committee of Armenia on June 11, 2018. He did not specify where and in what position he plans to work further, promising to continue "active creative, scientific, pedagogical and social activities."