Former Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) MP Aleksan Petrosyan has been arrested on charges of money laundering assistance.

The arrest warrant was issued by Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction Judge Artak Tadevosyan.

Petrosyan's indictment relates to the criminal case of former Minister of Nature Protection Aram Harutyunyan now being investigated by the Special Investigation Service.

Harutyunyan is charged with bribery and money laundering.

It is alleged that he demanded and received the equivalent of US$14 million from businesswomen Silva Hambardzumyan to facilitate the approval of exploratory mining permits for her.

Top photo (from left): Aleksan Petrosyan, Judge Artak Tadevosyan