Armenian law enforcement officers carried out a search of the home of Narek Karapetyan, a member of the political council of the opposition bloc Strong Armenia, early on Friday (July 31), according to Armenian media.
"Early this morning, law enforcement officers entered the private residence of Narek Karapetyan and are conducting a search," the opposition bloc said in a statement.
Narek Karapetyan is the nephew of Russian businessman Samvel Karapetyan.
Earlier, Armenia's Prosecutor General's Office initiated public criminal proceedings against Narek Karapetyan. He is accused of money laundering and coercing individuals to participate in public gatherings.
He has been released on bail of 1 billion drams (around $2 million) and placed under a travel ban after Armenia's Central Election Commission approved lifting his parliamentary immunity.
The decision followed a request from the Prosecutor General's Office to authorise public criminal prosecution against Karapetyan. Prosecutors subsequently opened formal criminal proceedings against the opposition MP.
The commission, however, declined to consider a separate request seeking authorisation for Karapetyan's detention. CEC Chairman Vahagn Hovakimyan said the request had been returned because it fell outside the commission's authority.
By Aghakzim Guliyev
