A bodyguard employed by Armenian MP Khachatur Sukiasyan spent $130,000 in February 2023 to buy a parcel of land in the country’s Ararat Province.

As to how the bodyguard, Roman Khanamiryan, got the money to buy the land and then build a livestock farm there, remains a mystery.

Sukiasyan, a prominent businessman in Armenia, was elected to the country’s parliament in 2021 on the ruling Civil Contract party’s ticket. He’s a co-founder of Armenia’s Union of Manufacturers and Businessmen and his family holds a controlling interest in Armeconombank.

Construction of the farm was carried out illegally, without urban planning documents and a building permit.

According to information Hetq received from Armenia’s Cadastre Committee, Khanamiryan purchased the 3.5-hectare plot from Marineh and Arthur Sasuntsyan, residents of the Ranchpar village. He then mortgaged the land to Armeconombank.

While local authorities fined Khanamiryan twice for the illegal construction and ordered to demolish the cattle sheds and an adjoining residential building, Hetq saw that none had been demolished during a recent visit to Ranchpar.

Hetq then wrote to Masis Municipality Mayor Davit Hambardzumyan for clarification. Hambardzumyan replied that Roman Khanamiryan is disputing one of the decisions in court, and regarding the other, the community has filed a request with the Compulsory Enforcement Service, a branch of the Ministry of Justice, to see that the demolition is carried out. 

Ranchpar village residents have no doubt that the farm belongs to MP Khachaturyan, despite what appears on the official registration documents.

Hetq then wrote to Sukiasyan for further clarification, asking about his relationship with Khanamiryan and his alleged ties to the farm.

In response, Sukiasyan’s spokesperson Anna Mkrtchyan wrote:

"Khachatur Sukiasyan is a deputy of Armenia’s National Assembly, and according to the RA Constitution, he is not engaged in business. Therefore, your questions are not relevant and have nothing to do with Khachatur Sukiasyan."

Hetq also reached out to Khanamiryan, asking where he got the money to buy the land and build the farm.

During the telephone conversation, Khanamiryan confirmed that he built the livestock farm in Ranchpar. When asked why he built the farm without any permits, he promised to provide details during a future face-to-face meeting when he returns to Yerevan. He said he’d call Hetq when he does.

Khanamiryan didn’t deny working as Sukiasyan's bodyguard. 

Photo (from left): Khachatur Sukiasyan, Roman Khanamiryan