A tax-related charge previously brought against Prosperous Armenia Party leader Gagik Tsarukyan has been discontinued by the prosecutor on the grounds that it was unlawful, a member of his legal team said.

Speaking to reporters outside the Investigative Committee, lawyer Yerem Sargsyan stated that prosecutors had formally dropped that part of the case.

Tsarukyan was brought to the Investigative Committee for another round of questioning. However, the defense said investigators had not specified which criminal proceeding the questioning concerned, Sputnik Armenia reported.

Sargsyan said more details would become clear as the investigation progresses.

“They did not specify the particular episode. We were only told that an additional interrogation would take place. We assume it concerns the fraud and money laundering case currently under investigation. The prosecutor has terminated the tax-related accusation because it was unlawful,” he said.

According to the lawyer, the defense has already submitted numerous documents which, in its view, refute the allegations against Tsarukyan, and plans to provide additional materials.

“At the same time, they are trying to ignore those documents,” Sargsyan said, according to Aysor.am.

Several dozen supporters gathered in the courtyard of the Investigative Committee and greeted Tsarukyan with applause as he arrived.

Earlier, the Investigative Committee said that public criminal prosecution had been initiated against Tsarukyan under Article 46-255, Part 3, Clause 3 of the Criminal Code (two counts of organizing fraud on an especially large scale) and Article 46-296, Part 3, Clause 3 (two counts of organizing money laundering on an especially large scale).

In recent days, Armenia's State Revenue Committee has carried out inspections at companies owned by Gagik Tsarukyan.

On July 6, law enforcement officers searched Tsarukyan's residence and businesses belonging to the Multi Group concern. The companies were subsequently sealed and their operations suspended, with only the Araratcement plant later resuming work. Employees of the affected enterprises have since staged protests demanding that normal operations be restored.

Tsarukyan was detained on July 6 and placed in pre-trial detention for two months the following day. He and another individual are accused of aiding fraud and aiding money laundering. A separate criminal case has also been opened over the alleged illegal hunting of a wild animal or bird.