Russia Accuses Armenian Businessman Close to Pashinyan Government of Diamond Smuggling Ties

Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) has linked Armenian lawmaker and well-known businessman Khachatur Sukiasyan to a diamond smuggling operation involving stolen Russian diamonds. Sukiasyan, a member of Armenia’s National Assembly and a close ally of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, strongly denies the accusations.

According to a statement released by the FSB on Monday, Russian authorities have arrested four individuals allegedly involved in smuggling diamonds from Russia to Armenia. Those arrested include Valentina Matyushchenkova, an employee of Russia’s state-owned diamond giant Alrosa, her son Aleksey Matyushchenkov, and two Armenian nationals, Armen Petrosyan and Arman Sahakyan.

The suspects are accused of stealing high-quality diamonds from Alrosa and replacing them with lower-value stones. The smuggled gems were allegedly sent to ADM Diamonds LLC, a company based in Armenia. The FSB claims the stolen diamonds were worth over 1.7 million rubles (approximately $22,000).

Russian investigators say the smuggling took place from September 2024 to January 2025, and during searches, they seized roughly 200,000 carats of technical diamond material, expensive jewelry, and large sums of cash.

The FSB alleges that the final recipient of the diamonds was ADM Diamonds LLC, and names Khachatur Sukiasyan as the “beneficiary” of the company. However, both Sukiasyan and ADM Diamonds deny any connection.

Sukiasyan’s spokesperson, Anna Mkrtchyan, said in a statement that the FSB’s claim is “disinformation” and part of an “information war” being waged against him. The company also stated that it is not controlled by Sukiasyan in any way and that it has never worked with illegal groups.

ADM Diamonds was launched in 2019, with Sukiasyan attending the opening ceremony and publicly praising the company’s business plans. Armenian investigative outlet Hetq previously reported that Sukiasyan appeared to have detailed knowledge about the company's operations, including its contracts. Despite this, official records list Artur Ohanjayan as the company’s sole owner today. In the past, it was owned by Asparik and Marine Baghikyan.

According to the FSB, Asparik Baghikyan and his brother are the main organizers of the smuggling operation and are wanted internationally for crimes related to diamond trafficking.

The Russian side has not stated whether Sukiasyan is officially a suspect. Instead, they said investigations are ongoing and that “investigative actions” continue.

Some in Armenia see this accusation as part of growing tensions between the Russian government and Armenia’s pro-Western leadership. Sukiasyan is a senior member of the ruling Civil Contract party and a vocal supporter of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

In recent days, rumors have circulated that Sukiasyan was involved in efforts to help the Armenian government take control of the country’s national electric utility, previously owned by Russian-Armenian billionaire Samvel Karapetyan. Karapetyan was arrested in Armenia on June 18, shortly after publicly criticizing the Pashinyan government.

Some analysts believe that Moscow is unhappy with Karapetyan’s arrest, given his close ties to Russian business and previous support for Russian projects in Armenia. His detention appears to have sparked concern among Russian officials, and this new scandal involving Sukiasyan may be politically motivated.

This diamond smuggling case shows the increasing strain in Armenia-Russia relations. While Russia remains a traditional ally of Armenia, the two countries have grown distant in recent years, especially after the 2020 Nagorno-Karabakh war. Many in Armenia feel that Moscow failed to protect Armenian interests, and Prime Minister Pashinyan has since turned toward closer cooperation with the West, including the European Union and the United States.

Khachatur Sukiasyan, age 63, is one of Armenia’s most prominent businessmen. His family businesses have grown significantly since Pashinyan came to power in 2018, often winning lucrative government contracts. That rapid expansion has drawn criticism from some political opponents who accuse him of benefiting from his close ties to the ruling party.

For now, the case remains under investigation in Russia. The Armenian authorities have not launched any public inquiry of their own, and Sukiasyan remains free and active in Armenia’s parliament.

Whether this case is a genuine criminal investigation or part of a broader political campaign by Moscow remains to be seen. What is clear is that it adds more pressure to an already fragile relationship between Armenia and its powerful neighbor to the north.

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