The brother of Armenia’s Ambassador to the U.S. was arrested yesterday in Parakar, a village near Yerevan’s Zvartnots Airport, and now faces drug trafficking charges.

Armenian Ministry of Internal Affairs press spokesperson Narek Sargsyan confirmed to Hetq that after police officers stopped a car in Parakar for a routine check, the passenger got out of the car and fled, throwing his belongings on the road: a pistol and a powder-like substance.

Sources tell Hetq that the person arrested was Mkrtich Mkrtchyan, brother of Ambassador Narek Mkrtchyan, who was driving the car.

Police are still looking for the passenger who fled the scene.

Narek Mkrtchyan, who served as Armenia’s Minister of Labor and Social Affairs, was appointed to replace Lilit Makunts who ended her four-year stint as Armenia’s ambassador to the U.S. last week.

Photo: Deutsche Welle