As a result of complex operative-search measures taken on the basis of operational information obtained in the Department of Economic Security and Countering Corruption of the RA National Security Service, it was established that there was a corruption scheme involving certain employees of the Territorial Development Fund of Armenia, within which the officials demanded and received a bribe in especially large amounts in the form of money from representatives of construction organizations recognized as winners in the procurement process.

In particular, according to the factual data available in the prepared materials, the head of the program implementation department of the Territorial Development Fund of Armenia, being an official constantly performing the functions of a representative of power in a state body, demanded a bribe in an especially large amount - 25,000,000 AMD from the owner of the company -contractor, declared the winner in the tender for the construction of a secondary school, held by the Fund in July, 2021, worth about 1.8 billion AMD, for patronage within its powers in favor of the contractor during the construction works of the above-mentioned school, including for the unhindered acceptance of acts of completion of ongoing construction works submitted to the Fund. Of the amount received, 5000 USD, equivalent to 2,404,100 AMD, was received by the official in September, 2021.

In order to implement the information received as a result of measures taken by the officials of the Department of the Economic Security and Countering Corruption of the RA National Security Service, on 12 November, 2021, after the official received another share of the bribe in the amount of 4000 USD, equivalent to 1.900.760 AMD, he and the briber were seized and brought in to the RA National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia. As a result of a personal search, the subject of a bribe-money-was found at the official.

In connection with the incident, the prepared materials were submitted to the RA Anti-Corruption Committee where a criminal case was initiated under the relevant articles of the RA Criminal Code. The official and the bribe giver were detained, a preliminary investigation is underway.

Operative-search measures are being taken in the direction of uncovering all possible episodes of the corruption scheme, detecting the full circle of persons involved in them and giving an equivalent criminal-legal assessment to each act.

We inform that the RA National Security Service will continue to carry a targeted fight in the direction of detecting various manifestations of corruption that destroy the economic foundations of the state, and preventing their further spread.

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.