RA National Security Service Detected Cases of Abuse of Office and Legalization (Money Laundering) of Proceeds from Crime on Especially Large Scale by Group of Officials Several Years Ago
Based on operative-search measures undertaken by the RA National Security Service, according to materials prepared in the manner prescribed by Articles 180-181 of the RA Criminal Procedure Code, apparent factual data were obtained that the competent officials of the Kentron community of Yerevan city, endowed with organizational-administrative, administrative and economic functions and powers of government representatives, in 2009 by prior agreement with an official holding the post of mayor of Yerevan during the specified period, proceeding from the group interests of the gratuitous alienation of community property, abusing their official position, without any grounds provided for by the law on transferring community property to the ownership of other persons by way of donation, ignoring the possibility of using real estate for the real needs of the community, at the meetings of the Council of Elders formally convened on May 27, 2009, May 6, 2009, discussed and approved the issue of gratuitous donation to A. S. V. of real estate with an area of 171.9 sq. m. located at the address: Yerevan, Mashtots Avenue 40a, No. 100, to V.S.D.- real estate with an area of 103.1 sq. m., located at the address: Yerevan, str. Charents 4, No. 129, to S.M. H. - real estate with an area of 107.9 sq. m, located at the address: Yerevan, str. Vardanants 5a, No. 366 in respect of which these persons acquired the right of ownership. Then, after some time, on 02.02.2011, 10.02.2011, 01.06.2011, according to a preliminary agreement reached, the latter alienated this property for insignificant amounts to close relatives of the person who held the post of Mayor of Yerevan, or persons related to him.
As a result of these actions, the normal activities of the local self-government body were disrupted, significant damage was caused to the legitimate interests of the community, which led to serious consequences, namely real estate, having a particularly large value of 235.000.000 AMD, was illegally transferred to the disposal and actual illegal possession of another person.
At the same time, apparent factual data were obtained that the person holding the office of the mayor of Yerevan, in order to conceal the criminally acquired source of origin of property on an especially large scale, the ownership of rights, having come to a preliminary agreement with competent officials of Yerevan Municipality, with the assistance of the latter, using his official position, the property rights to illegally acquired and actually owned by him real estate of the community, formally registered in the names of his relatives and persons under his official subordination, thereby hiding the true origin of especially large property acquired by criminal means, having received a real opportunity to manage them without legal consequences.
In connection with the incident, on August 14, 2020, a criminal case was initiated at the Investigation Department of the RA NSS.
Necessary investigative and other procedural actions are being taken in the direction of verifying the hypothesis of illegal seizure of other community property using the same corruption scheme by officials, finding out all the circumstances of the incident, giving an appropriate criminal legal assessment to their actions, as well as restoring legitimate interests of the state.
It should also be reminded that in another criminal case investigated by the Investigation Department of the RA NSS, factual data were obtained on the illegal possession of a total of 27 real estate objects of the community, including real estate provided for the organization of a number of preschool educational institutions by an official holding the office of the mayor of Yerevan, as a result of which the effectiveness of organizing the preschool and out-of-school education, the implementation of harmonious and comprehensive development, education and upbringing of children in the community has significantly decreased.
Note: The suspect or accused of an alleged crime is considered innocent as long as his/her guilt is not proven in a manner prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure of RA - by the court decision entered into legal force.