YEREVAN. – An arrest warrant is issued against Armen Muradyan (a.k.a. Shlam) and his friend, Asatur Arustamyan, Police Force Press Service informed Armenian News-NEWS.am. Muradyan is the main seller of the products of Ararat Cement Factory, which belongs to ruling coalition’s Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Chairman, and businessman, Gagik Tsarukyan. To note Muradyan and Arustamyan were detained, on November 25, on suspicion of drug possession. 

A criminal case is launched on charges of illegal trafficking of drugs, or psychotropic substances, but without selling. An investigation is underway.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, according to Hraparak daily, Shlam is the Factory product’s main seller, and he owns close to thirty cement trucks.

“Perhaps this [arrest] should likewise be observed against the background of the [coalition’s Republican Party of Armenia] RPA-PAP conflict. In fact, the political battle is smoothly passing on to the criminal turf. Our sources say there will be a new wave of singling outs against PAP, in the coming weeks,” Hraparak wrote.