Law enforcement officers have been searching the private home of businessman and Prosperous Armenia party leader  Gagik Tsarukyan since early this morning.

Tsarukyan’s spokesperson, Iveta Tonoyan, reports that the searches include the company headquarters of businesses owned by Tsarukyan’s Multi Group network and the residences of company directors.

Hetq sources report that the searches are part of a money laundering investigation.

Armenia’s Investigative Committee says it will release an official statement on the searches at a later date.

UPDATE: The Investigative Committee reports that it confiscated 190 stuffed animals from the house of Tsarukyan as part of an illegal hunting case brought by the Kotayk Provincial Investigative Department.

Three lions and one tiger that Tsarukyan kept as pets at his residence were also seized and transferred to the Yerevan Zoo.