YEREVAN. – The National Security Service (NSS) informed that according to the evidence obtained during the investigation of the criminal case under the NSS investigation in connection with bribing voters and taking bribes during the 2017 National Assembly elections, a decision was made to include business tycoon and Gagik Tsarukyan, chairman of the opposition Prosperous Armenia party and leader of the Tsarukyan bloc of political parties, as an accused under the Criminal Code. The NSS noted about this in a new statement.

As per this statement, the body conducting these proceedings had filed a motion with the Yerevan Court of First Instance to rule for the arrest of Gagik Tsarukyan as a pretrial measure, but the court denied this motion.

At the same time, as per the NSS statement, the court of first instance found that during the respective criminal proceedings, Gagik Tsarukyan's improper conduct could be prevented by the use of another pretrial measure unrelated to arresting him.

According to the statement, taking into account the public interest in fully solving the aforesaid crimes, the NSS also expects to receive public assistance, and therefore it urges Armenian citizens to immediately notify the body conducting the proceedings if they have any information about this case.

The Prosecutor's Office will appeal the aforesaid decision by the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction of to the Criminal Court of Appeal.