Alen Simonyan’s Name at the Center of a Scandal Over Possible Money Laundering

In recent days, a publication by the daily newspaper Hraparak has become a subject of extensive discussion behind the political scenes. According to the publication, a high-ranking representative of the authorities contacted Armenian criminal circles in Los Angeles in order to clarify the possibilities of legalizing large sums of money. According to the publication, this concerns the transfer of large amounts of funds from Armenia to the United States and their subsequent “legalization,” which in legal terms is classified as money laundering.

According to the newspaper’s information, the intermediary contact was made in advance, with the aim of laying the groundwork for future financial transactions. Notably, according to the source, even representatives of the Armenian criminal circles in the United States were unaware of the actual origin of these funds, which raises additional questions about the nature of the possible transaction.

Later, the “Bolola” Telegram channel claimed that the official alluded to in the publication was National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan. This information has not been officially confirmed, but the circulation of such an allegation in itself is a serious blow to the authorities’ anti-corruption agenda, particularly under circumstances in which the current authorities have spent years declaring a fight against the shadow economy and illicit enrichment.

Regardless of how much these reports are ultimately substantiated, the public is rightfully awaiting clarification. If the published information does not correspond to reality, it should be immediately denied with facts. And if there are indications of such transactions, law enforcement agencies are obliged to examine them, regardless of the positions held by the persons involved.