As a result of complex operative-search measures carried out by the employees of the Ararat regional department and the Department of Economic Security and Encountering Corruption of the RA National Security Service, it was established that chief tax inspectors of the tax inspection-department of current control of taxpayers of the RA SRC T.A. and V.A., having entered into a preliminary conspiracy with each other, taking advantage of the circumstance that, while exercising their powers they found a case of non-issuance of a cash register receipt in the shop of an individual entrepreneur S.G. in Masis, on 16 July, 2021, visited the shop of the latter and personally demanded a bribe in an especially large amount - 1.500.000 AMD for non-registration of alleged violations committed by an economic entity in accordance with the tax legislation.

In case of disagreement, the inspectors threatened to harm the rights and legitimate interests of the business entity, namely, to take action in the direction of initiating a criminal case, carrying out criminal prosecution and, as a result, bringing the latter to criminal justice, after which he was forced to promise to bribe officials.

Carrying out their criminal intent, the mentioned tax inspectors being in the field of view of the RA National Security Service officers, on 30 July, 2021, by extortion, received a bribe from the economic entity in the amount of 1.200.000 AMD out of the required amount, after which they were seized on the spot and brought in to the RA National Security Service. One of the inspectors was found to have a bribe item treated with a special chemical solution – 1.200.000 AMD, on which the inscription "bribe" was highlighted under ultraviolet light.

In connection with the incident, within the framework of the criminal case initiated in the Investigation Department of the RA NSS, the mentioned officials were detained on the same day on suspicion of receiving bribe in especially large amount. In the conditions of accumulation of sufficient evidence obtained in the criminal case, they were charged for committing a crime on the grounds of Article 311, Part 4, Clause 2 of the RA Criminal Code, and arrest was chosen as a restrictive measure.

Necessary investigative and other procedural actions are being taken in the direction of detecting other criminal manifestations committed by officials, establishing the full scope of the persons involved in the corruption mechanism and giving an adequate criminal-legal assessment to their actions.

The National Security Service will continue to carry out similar measures in the direction of eradicating the existing corruption manifestations in various spheres of public life and urges economic entities to carry out their activities exclusively in the legal field, refrain from corruption manifestations, and, in each case of demand of a bribe by officials, to immediately report this to law enforcement bodies.

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.