Armenia’s former Chief Judicial Enforcer, Mihran Poghosyan
YEREVAN (RFE/RL)—An Armenian law-enforcement agency has launched criminal proceedings against Mihran Poghosyan, Armenia’s former Chief compulsory enforcement officer, who resigned two weeks ago after being accused of having secret offshore accounts exposed by the Panama Papers.
Citing the leaked documents, the Hetq.am investigative publication reported last month that the controversial head of a government body who enforced court rulings controls three shadowy companies registered in Panama. It said Poghosyan has the exclusive right to manage Swiss bank accounts of two of those firms.
After initial a denial of the report, Poghosyan announced his resignation on April 18. But he stopped short of admitting any wrongdoing.
The Special Investigation Service (SIS) told RFE/RL’s Armenian service (Azatutyun.am) on May 3 that it has formally launched a criminal investigation in connection with the Hetq.am report.
The SIS said the probe is being conducted under an article of the Criminal Code dealing with Armenian officials’ “illegal participation in entrepreneurial activity.â€
