YEREVAN. – Armenian parliament speaker Hovik Abrahamyan called “ridiculous” the attempts to link his name to former head of agricultural department of Ararat region Tigran Virabyan.

Earlier Virabyan was arrested on suspicion of misappropriation of state funds. Some press reports linked his name to Speaker of the National Assembly Hovik Abrahamyan.

“I have commented on the issue several times. Nevertheless, I want to say, hope it is for the last time, that I have no relation to the government program on distributing of diesel fuel,” Abrahamyan told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Last month Armenia’s investigative service launched four criminal cases against officials from Ararat, Gegharkunik, Kotayk and Shirak regions. All the cases are referring to misappropriation of diesel fuel and misuse of official power.

Hovik Abrahamyan once again noted that attempts to link his name to Virabyan are nothing but “deliberately spread misinformation.”

 “I think Mr. Virabyan will tell the truth,” he added.