Gas stations owned by the family of former Berd community head Harutyun Manucharyan have been temporarily closed, Hraparak newspaper reported.
The Investigative Committee said the gas stations were closed in connection with alleged failure to pay taxes on an especially large scale, Factor.am reported.
“During the preliminary investigation of criminal proceedings initiated over failure to pay taxes on an especially large scale, temporary restrictions were imposed on the company’s premises for the purpose of conducting investigative and procedural actions,” the Investigative Committee said.
Harutyun Manucharyan headed the Berd community in Armenia’s Tavush region from 2017 to 2022. Before that, he served as mayor of the town of Berd from 2012.
In local elections held in September 2022, the Zoravor Hamaynk alliance led by Manucharyan won. However, in October of the same year, Manucharyan announced that he was giving up his municipal council mandate.
Beginning in 2021-2022, he came under scrutiny from law enforcement agencies. Manucharyan has faced charges of abuse of official authority, official forgery, as well as alleged abuses related to the legalization of unauthorized structures built by his son.
