ArmInfo. Armenian authorities continue to harass the business of businessman Gagik Tsarukyan, leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party. The State Revenue Committee of Armenia has accused Onira Club LLC, which represents the Pharaoh recreation and entertainment complex and is part of the Multi Group concern, of tax evasion.
According to a statement from the press service of the State Revenue Committee (SRC) of Armenia, it received intelligence that O.K. LLC, operating at 5 Abovyan Highway in the village of Verkhniy Ptghni, Yerevan, and better known as an entertainment center and casino, failed to report all income from its activities in its tax returns. "As a result, actual sales volumes were understated, which reduced tax liabilities to the state budget. Employees of the Department of Investigations and Operational-Investigative Activities, posing as clients, contacted company representatives to review the actual price list for events.
The center's employees reported that, regardless of the number of guests, renting the hall costs at least 12 million drams," the State Revenue Committee reported.
The department added that during subsequent operational activities, data contained on the company's computers, internal accounting records, and draft documents were examined. "After comparing the information received with tax returns, it was discovered that revenue from 25 events held in 2025-2026, totaling approximately 300 million drams, was not reflected in the tax returns submitted to the tax authorities. As a result, approximately 82 million drams in taxes were not transferred to the budget," the State Revenue Committee reported, adding that materials on the alleged crime have been sent to the General Department for the Investigation of Economic Crimes and Smuggling of the Investigative Committee of Armenia. Criminal proceedings have been initiated under Article 290, Part 3, Clause 2 of the RA Criminal Code.
On July 16, the Prosecutor General's Office announced that the Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia had upheld their claim to transfer Tsarukyan's plant to state control. The nationalization process for Tsarukyan's plant began after Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan threatened to nationalize Gagik Tsarukyan's business during a May 20 election campaign in the Lori region. He emphasized that the prosecutor's office had already issued a corresponding memorandum to initiate the process. Following Pashinyan's remarks, the prosecutor's office began taking appropriate action.
Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan himself emphasized the legality of the transaction at the time and linked the pressure surrounding the plant to his political activities. He noted that the enterprise was purchased completely legally and warned of legal consequences in the event of an illegal seizure of property, including an appeal to the European Court. On July 16, it was also announced that the Multi Wellness building owned by Gagik Tsarukyan had been transferred to the Yerevan Municipality. Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan confirmed this information in an interview with Factor.am. He stated that the building was constructed on municipal land, which is designated as non-expropriable, and that violations were committed during construction.
As a reminder, on July 6, Prosperous Armenia Party leader and businessman Gagik Tsarukyan was detained and taken to the Investigative Committee of Armenia. He is accused of organizing fraud and money laundering on an especially large scale. According to investigators, between 2022 and 2024, a group operating under his leadership, under the pretext of developing trade and economic ties between Armenia and Iran, created joint legal entities with the participation of Iranian citizens, after which they carried out a fraudulent scheme, causing damages totaling over $21 million.
Furthermore, Gagik Tsarukyan faces another charge of illegal hunting. On July 7, the court granted the prosecution's motion to remand Tsarukyan in custody for two months. As part of the case, on July 6, law enforcement agencies conducted searches at more than 70 addresses associated with Tsarukyan. The doors of all businesses were subsequently sealed.
