15 Jan 2020 19:09

Arrested ex-Armenian finance minister hospitalized

YEREVAN. Jan 15 (Interfax) - Former finance minister of Armenia and former chairman of the State Revenue Committee Gagik Khachatryan, who is under arrest, has been taken to the Astkhik medical center for examination and treatment.

"Khachatryan needed urgent medical assistance. The doctors found that he needs urgent examination for cardiology and other areas, as well as treatment. Gagik Khachatryan was hospitalized from the penal establishment Yerevan-Kentron in the morning and he is now under the observation of doctors from the medical center Astkhik," the office of Khachatryan's team of lawyers said.

Khachatryan has been under arrest for over six months now. He is charged in a case involving abuse of office and misappropriation of large amounts of property during his state service from 2008 to 2014.

He denies the charges.

From 2008 to 2014, Khachatryan headed the Armenian State Revenue Committee (which includes the tax and customs services). After that, he became finance minister. He remained in that positon until 2016.

Khachatryan is considered one of the richest people in Armenia. He is a major supplier of chocolate to the country. Specifically, he owns the importer of products manufactured by Roshen. Armenian media link his name to the purchase of the Mozart confectionary factory in Salzburg for $200 million. Khachatryan owns several hundred hectares of agricultural land and is the ultimate beneficiary owner of one of the largest telecommunications companies in Armenia, Ucom.