The FSB and Russia’s Investigative Committee have uncovered a criminal scheme in which diamonds from the Russian company ALROSA were illegally smuggled into Armenia, directly to MP and oligarch Khachatur Sukiasyan. The parliamentarian, known for his shady past, is considered a long-time associate of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and is often called his “wallet.” Just recently, Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan was detained in Armenia and criminally charged for allegedly inciting a coup.
According to Report, Russian media outlet NEWS.ru revealed the real motives behind the diamond smuggling scandal and who is truly behind the illegal operation.
What is known about the theft of ALROSA’s diamonds
Russia’s FSB, together with the Investigative Committee, dismantled a criminal group engaged in stealing and smuggling high-quality ALROSA diamonds to Armenia.
The FSB reported that their agents caught ALROSA employee Valentina Matyushenkova and her son Alexey, who acted as an intermediary, red-handed as they attempted to steal another batch of diamonds. Russian and Armenian citizens Armen Petrosyan and Arman Saakyan, who organized the smuggling and supplied industrial-grade diamonds for substitution, were also arrested.
“The ALROSA employee was detained by the FSB while trying to smuggle a batch of stolen diamonds weighing around 250 carats, worth over 1.9 million rubles, out of the company's facility,” NEWS.ru reported, citing ALROSA’s press service.
During searches, authorities seized around 200,000 carats of industrial diamond material, along with tools and equipment used to hide and transport the gemstones. The FSB also released footage showing the arrests of the gang, the confiscated diamonds, and alleged proceeds from the illegal trade.
According to law enforcement, the scheme was organized by Armenian nationals—the Bagikyan brothers—who are internationally wanted for diamond smuggling.
For criminals, the diamond business is extremely lucrative, said Igor Korotchenko, Director of the Caspian Institute for Strategic Studies, in an interview with NEWS.ru.
“Buying or stealing diamonds through illegal channels is highly profitable. Armenia has workshops where natural diamonds can be cut and then re-exported to third countries or sold as jewelry. It’s possible these stones eventually end up on European or American markets,” he explained.
Investigators believe the stolen ALROSA diamonds were smuggled to Armenia, where they were processed at facilities owned by ADM Diamonds. The alleged beneficiary of ADM Diamonds is businessman and Armenian MP Khachatur Sukiasyan.
“The fact that Sukiasyan’s people were arrested in Russia indicates his involvement in this illegal business. But what’s interesting is that this only came to light now, even though suspicions existed before,” Andranik Tevanyan, leader of the “Mother Armenia” movement, told NEWS.ru.
Background of the diamond scandal
Previously, Armenian authorities arrested Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan, detaining him for two months on charges of inciting a coup. The arrest followed Karapetyan’s vocal support for the Armenian Apostolic Church, which Pashinyan has openly criticized.
“A small group, forgetting Armenian history and the thousand-year legacy of the Armenian Church, has attacked both the Church and the Armenian people,” Karapetyan said, commenting on Pashinyan’s criticism of Catholicos of All Armenians, Garegin II.
Pashinyan announced plans to nationalize Karapetyan’s company, the Electric Networks of Armenia (ENA).
“This [nationalization] will happen quickly, and I urge all ENA employees to diligently fulfill their duties. Their integrity will be considered after nationalization,” Pashinyan wrote on Facebook.
Russia’s Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova stated that Moscow is closely monitoring the situation around Karapetyan, calling the reasons for his arrest “strange.” She emphasized that Russia will provide any necessary assistance to the businessman.
Who is Khachatur Sukiasyan?
According to Armenian media, businessman and MP Khachatur Sukiasyan, a member of Pashinyan's “Civil Contract” party, founded the “SIL” corporation after the collapse of the USSR and expanded into energy, construction, banking, and trade.
“Sukiasyan is a classic product of the so-called 'wild 90s'. He initially amassed his fortune through political connections, and later used his wealth to influence politics,” Tevanyan explained.
Since 1999, Sukiasyan has been repeatedly elected to parliament and was part of the inner circles of former Armenian Presidents Robert Kocharyan and Serzh Sargsyan. However, in 2008, he was stripped of parliamentary immunity and declared wanted for alleged involvement in organizing mass riots on March 1, 2008. Among the accused was future Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, then editor of the opposition newspaper Haykakan Zhamanak (Armenian Times).
Sukiasyan initially went into hiding and left Armenia in 2009, reportedly for health reasons. He was later amnestied, and in 2012, he unsuccessfully attempted to run for parliament.
After Pashinyan came to power in 2018, Sukiasyan became his ally and in 2021 was elected to the National Assembly via the Civil Contract’s nationwide party list.
“Khachatur Sukiasyan is part of Pashinyan’s team. By Armenian standards, he’s considered an oligarch, even though Pashinyan publicly opposes oligarchs and businessmen in parliament. But despite his rhetoric, he brought Sukiasyan into the legislature,” Tevanyan noted.
According to Armenian outlet Verelq, Sukiasyan is one of the largest sponsors of the ruling Civil Contract party. His companies receive government contracts, and he serves as an unofficial negotiator for the authorities. His brother Robert Sukiasyan has also faced legal issues, particularly for illegal construction projects in central Yerevan. The Sukiasyan family is widely regarded as Pashinyan’s financiers.
“Sukiasyan is an oligarch—there’s no better word to describe him. In fact, he was an oligarch even under the previous governments,” Armenian political analyst Karen Kocharyan told NEWS.ru.
Sukiasyan’s response to the allegations
Sukiasyan’s associates have denied any connection to the theft and smuggling of ALROSA’s diamonds.
“The Sukiasyan family has no ties to the diamond factory, and such claims are unfounded,” said Sukiasyan’s press secretary Anna Mkrtchyan.
ADM Diamonds also denied that Sukiasyan is a beneficiary. “Khachatur Sukiasyan has no connection to ADM Diamonds,” the company’s press office told NEWS.ru.
The company’s ownership is not publicly disclosed, though they appear to have high-level connections. Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan attended ADM Diamonds’ factory opening in December 2019.
According to Tevanyan, Sukiasyan will not be stripped of his parliamentary immunity because he is a member of Pashinyan’s team.
“Pashinyan won’t hand him over unless it benefits him personally. Armenia won’t cooperate with Russia on this investigation for the same reason,” the politician concluded.