Former Chairman of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee and former Minister of Finance, Gagik Khachatryan, has been detained.

Armenian authorities decided to arrest Khachatryan as part of a criminal investigation into large-scale corruption and money laundering, according to Armenia’s Investigative Committee.

Investigators carried out urgent investigative measures as part of a case involving allegations of receiving particularly large bribes and money laundering.

Searches were conducted at properties belonging to Khachatryan and his son, as well as at the offices and branches of around 21 companies affiliated with them.

Armenian media have previously reported on Khachatryan’s serious health condition, including claims that he has been undergoing treatment for cancer in Germany.

However, reports said that in recent years he had been barred from leaving Armenia to continue medical treatment abroad.