The Prosecutor General Submits a Proposal to Imprison MP Aram Harutyunyan

On September 11, 2015, based on a case regarding the receipt of a particularly large bribe by an official, the Special Investigative Service of Armenia initiated a criminal case under the second part of Article 311 of the RA Criminal Code. Sufficient evidence was gathered during the preliminary investigation, establishing that Armenian National Assembly MP Aram Harutyunyan, while serving as the Minister of Nature Protection in 2008, demanded and received a bribe of 14 million US dollars through intermediaries for granting special licenses for mining operations in ten colored metal extraction sites in the Syunik, Gegharkunik, Lori, and Kotayk regions.

Out of the stated amount, 6 million dollars were withdrawn in cash by the intermediary S.H. from the bank between January and November 2008, and the remaining 8 million dollars were transferred to Harutyunyan via bank transfer, also through intermediaries.

Two additional individuals have been involved as defendants in connection with the same criminal act; they have been detained as a measure of restraint and are wanted by the authorities.

Moreover, the criminal case has yielded information indicating that Aram Harutyunyan owns several properties in Yerevan, including houses and apartments, a seven-story building adjacent to the Republic Square, a restaurant complex, and a publicly significant construction located at 10/1 D. Anhkhat Street with a cadastral value exceeding 427 million AMD, as well as over a dozen agricultural land plots in the Getamej community of Kotayk region. He has declared assets exceeding one and a half million US dollars.

Thus, the combination of evidence obtained in the criminal case provides sufficient grounds to involve MP Aram Harutyunyan as a defendant in this case.

The factual data collected confirm Aram Harutyunyan's direct involvement in the criminal activities and indicate a strong probability of committing a crime. He is charged with particularly serious crimes against public service and economic activity. The nature of the crimes and the involvement of multiple individuals in the bribery chain highlight the high degree of public danger associated with these offenses.

In light of the above, Prosecutor General Artur Davtyan has submitted requests to the National Assembly of Armenia, via the Speaker of the National Assembly, to grant permission for criminal prosecution against MP Aram Harutyunyan, as well as to impose detention as a measure of restraint.