Background
For more than 8 months, RA citizen and businessman Tigran Khachatryan has been detained in the Russian Federation. On July 3, 2024, Tigran Khachatryan arrived in Moscow and stayed at one of the city’s hotels. On the night of July 17-18, officers from the Criminal Investigation Department of the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs took him into custody and arrested him the same day. He has been charged with preparing the murder of his daughter Marina Khachatryan’s former husband Garegin Muradyan and his father Aram Muradyan. The charges are based exclusively on the testimonies of two “secret” witnesses, without any objective evidence.
A criminal case has also been initiated in the Republic of Armenia, as immediately after Tigran Khachatryan’s arrest, a group of individuals began extorting especially large sums of money from his family members living in Yerevan, promising to facilitate Tigran Khachatryan’s release. The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia responded to this situation by initiating criminal proceedings No. 15-0756-24, within which Tigran Khachatryan and two of his family members have been recognized as victims.
New Evidence of Financial Frauds by the “Secret” Witness
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One of the “secret” witnesses who testified against Tigran Khachatryan – Karine, was involved in numerous financial frauds. It was discovered that for several years, she had deceived various individuals by taking large sums of money or arranging loans in their names without repaying the debts.
The Khachatryan family has revealed that this woman was a childhood friend of Tigran Khachatryan’s wife and had even lived in their home at one time. According to the family, Karine established connections with a transnational criminal group due to her financial debts.
Testimonies of Former Fraud Victims
Journalistic investigation has revealed that during 2024, Karine took large sums of money from several individuals, promising to return them. Among her victims is a 70-year-old woman who lost all her savings.
“I was introduced to Karine by my friend, who works as a teacher. She gained my friend’s trust; my friend often lent her money, and Karine returned it. When it was needed again, my friend approached me and introduced me to Karine. The impression wasn’t bad; otherwise, I wouldn’t have given her money,” one of the victims recounts.
Another person told that Karine asked many people to take loans in their names. “One fine day, she got up and fled from Armenia, leaving all of us in this situation. I went to the Investigative Committee, filed a complaint, but was rejected. They said: you went of your own free will and stood as a guarantor,” they reported.
Banking Schemes and Mortgaged Property
According to victim testimonies and data from “Datalex,” Karine used her connections with bank employees to arrange loans. One of the banks has filed a court case requesting that Karine be declared bankrupt. She was granted a loan of approximately 240 thousand dollars, of which about 180 thousand has not been repaid. An apartment located on Sayat-Nova Avenue served as collateral.
Even more shocking is the fact that, according to testimonies, Karine also mortgaged the apartment of her 83-year-old aunt, who was hospitalized in serious condition after learning about the loans and subsequently died.
New Extortion Attempts and Threats to the Khachatryan Family
Marina Khachatryan has reported that Karine, acting as a “secret” witness, also attempted to accuse her of setting fire to her car. “She was in the process of being declared bankrupt and was presumably expected to lose this property. The criminal proceedings regarding the car arson were coupled with the extortion case, and we have concerns that this arson was artificial or committed for a different purpose,” noted the family’s lawyer.
According to Marina Khachatryan, if the pressure does not cease, she will be forced to reveal the names of all involved persons, including officials, during a press conference in the presence of representatives from Armenian and Russian media.
Tigran Khachatryan’s Defense Team Again Calls On:
- The Competent Authorities of the Republic of Armenia to
- immediately intensify operational and investigative actions on the extortion case,
- thoroughly examine the validity of the testimonies of the two secret witnesses and their financial connections,
- send an investigator to Moscow and establish investigative cooperation on the two criminal cases to neutralize the criminal group and uncover the truth,
- The Prosecutor General of the RA and the Chairman of the Investigative Committee of the RA: to receive and listen to Marina Khachatryan and her lawyer,
- The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the RA: to convey through diplomatic channels to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Russian Federation possible concerns related to Tigran Khachatryan’s case being investigated in the Russian Federation, as well as to initiate and organize a meeting with Tigran Khachatryan in Moscow through the RA Embassy in the Russian Federation and to listen to him,
- ensure the protection of the rights of the RA citizen, including the safety of family members.
- The Competent Authorities of the Russian Federation to
- examine the revealed circumstances of the case related to the identity and motives of the two secret witnesses,
- provide Tigran Khachatryan with the opportunity for a fair trial.
For Information Contact
Email: [email protected]
Tel.: +374 99 970900
About Tigran Khachatryan’s Defense Team
The defense team was formed for the purpose of publicizing Tigran Khachatryan’s criminal cases No. 12402450016000096 initiated in the Russian Federation and No. 15-0756-24 initiated in the Republic of Armenia, protecting his rights, and restoring justice. The team’s mission is to achieve the final declaration of Tigran Khachatryan’s innocence and the accountability of those guilty in the case, as well as to uncover criminal case No. 15-0756-24 initiated based on the fact of the crime committed in the Republic of Armenia. The defense team includes Tigran Khachatryan’s family members, close friends, lawyers, experts in the legal and security fields, as well as representatives of the public.
Tigran Khachatryan’s Defense Team
14.04.2025
