Armenian National Security Service does not comment on press reports saying that the service was instructed to remove mini-casinos from the houses of some Armenian oligarchs and officials. “I have no such information. I have no comments on the reports, there was no such instruction,” spokesperson for the Armenian National Security Service Artsvin Baghramyan told NEWS.am.

According to the Armenian media outlets, Armenian oligarchs and officials have mini-casinos in their summer houses. A narrow circle of players use those private casinos, trespassers are off limits. The gamblers make large bets, so the losses and gains are also considerably large. However, after the exposure and arrest of Armenian criminals led by Armen Kazarian in the U.S., the Armenian authorities decided that these casinos are not safe. The gambling houses could be exposed and used for blackmail by the U.S. and Russian special services. Therefore, the Armenian NSS was ordered to “find and destroy” these dens.