As a result of complex and effective operative-search measures taken by officers of Shirak Regional Department of the RA National Security Service, apparent factual data were obtained that N. P., holding the post of the chief operational officer of Shirak division of Inquiry and operations search department of the RA State Revenue Committee, constantly exercising the powers of a representative of the government and being an official, pursuant to Article 9 of the RA Law “On Tax Service”, being obliged to exercise control over taxpayers in accordance with the law, apply legal measures prescribed by the law for violation of tax legislation, other legal acts regulating tax relations- tax liability claims, found persons engaged in illegal entrepreneurial activities in the administrative territory of Shirak province during 2019-2020, but did not commit his official duties, did not take any measures towards eliminating the detected violations and applying liability measures against the entities engaged in illegal entrepreneurial activities  in accordance with the procedure established by the law, instead, each month demanded a bribe of 20,000-100,000 AMD  each from the above-mentioned citizens for obvious illegal inaction,  i.e. not to record the above-mentioned facts, then not to fine, not to prevent the illegal entrepreneurial  activity .

In addition to the above, N. P. each month demanded and received a bribe of 100,000 AMD each from a number of entrepreneurs until 26June, 2020, in order not to register the violations of a number of mining companies in his area of service, not to apply liability measures in accordance with the procedure established by the law, not to interfere with the activities of the entrepreneurs, as well as to inform the entrepreneurs on possible inspections in advance and to give advice on how to cover up their violations.

On 26 June, 2020, at the time of once again receiving the demanded bribe -100,000 AMD,  N. P. was found by the officers of the RA NSS and brought in to the RA NSS on suspicion of receiving a bribe in particularly large amount, during which the subject of the bribe was found during the personal search.

In connection with the incident a criminal case was initiated in the Investigation Department of the RA NSS on the grounds of Article 311, Part 3, Clause 3 of the RA Criminal Code, Article 312, Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code, Article 312, Part 1 (episode 6) of the RA Criminal Code and Article 188, Part 1(episode 5) in the Investigation Department of the NSS of RA, in the framework of which, based on the direct suspicion of committing a crime, N. P. was detained.

During the pre-trial proceedings, 12 searches were carried out in the apartments of the persons who allegedly gave bribes, as well as those who carried out illegal entrepreneurial  activities, during which equipment, medical supplies, personal lists of customers that had used the service, confirming the fact of dental activity, were found. It was also established that different persons in a number of communities operating in the administrative territory of Shirak province, grossly violating sanitary and hygienic conditions, for years, without registering in the tax  authority and a special permit (license), carried out illegal entrepreneurial activities  subject to licensing, and gave bribes of different amounts to officials each month in order to conceal that fact or for sponsorship.

On 28 June, 2020, on suspicion of giving a bribe to an official and engaging in illegal entrepreneurial  activities 8 persons were involved as suspects, 2 of whom were detained and written undertaking not to leave the place has been chosen as a measure of restraint against 6 persons .

Necessary investigative and other procedural actions are being taken to determine the real amount of the damage caused to the state as a result of carrying out illegal entrepreneurial activities, to detect other criminal manifestations committed by N. P., to detect the full circle of the persons involved in a corruption mechanism and to assess the actions under the criminal law correspondingly.

The National Security Service urges economic entities to carry out their activities exclusively in the legal field and to refrain from corruption manifestations.

Note: The suspect or accused of an alleged crime is considered innocent as long as his guilt is not proven in a manner prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure of RA - by the court decision entered into legal force.