Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court will seize some five hectares of land illegally privatized by former PM Hovik Abrahamyan and return it to the state.

The land, near Tzaghkadzor in Armenia’s Kotayk Province, was first purchased in 2007 by Marzpet Gareginyan, Chief of Staff of the Kotayk Provincial Government   in an illegally organized auction and then transferred to Abrahamyan’s chauffeur. 

Hetq, in a 2019 expose, described how various Armenian officials purchased portions of woodland the Armenian government transferred to the Hrazadan Municipality in 2007.

Court cases to return other tracts of land purchased by officials are ongoing.

Abrahamyan, a career Republican Party of Armenia politician, served at prime minister from April 2014 to September 2016, and president of the National Assembly (May 2012-April 2014).

Abrahamyan owns a vast business network in Armenia registered under family members.