“We were expecting law enforcement officers sooner; they were late” – Spiritual Dean of Izmirlyan MC

Law enforcement officers have been conducting searches at Izmirlyan Medical Center since early this morning.

The spiritual dean of the medical center, Father Hovhannes Torgomyan, told reporters that staff had been participating in a scheduled meeting when it was interrupted by the arrival of investigative authorities at the facility.

According to him, three offices were searched – those of the director, Professor Armen Charchyan, the deputy director for medical affairs, and the deputy director for finance. Law enforcement officers also confiscated the computers of the chief accountant and the deputy director.

Father Hovhannes described the developments as another manifestation of an anti-church campaign.

“We were expecting this. In fact, they are very late – we anticipated their arrival much earlier,” he said.

He also dismissed as “a brazen lie” the statement by the Criminal Investigation Department alleging that the medical center had failed to pay a substantial amount in taxes.

“We have nothing to do with such accusations. We have absolutely no fear; our case is just,” Father Hovhannes added.