Former Village Head of Zartonk Charged with Large-Scale Embezzlement

The investigation is underway in the Armavir regional investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee to clarify all circumstances of the alleged embezzlements by the head of the Zartonk community. The community leader has been charged.

The RA Investigative Committee informs NEWS.am that on March 11, 2019, six residents of Zartonk village in Armavir province submitted a complaint to the Majoram Police Department, reporting that the head of the Zartonk community had committed a number of abuses, specifically embezzling funds allocated from the community budget for social assistance.

In connection with the complaint, materials were prepared in the Majoram Police Department, during which the mentioned residents of Zartonk, who are participants in the April 2016 four-day war, provided testimonies and explanations that the community leader had issued a total of 1,100,000 AMD in assistance from the community budget in their names, yet one had not received any money at all, while the others had received a total of 300,000 AMD.

Information was also obtained indicating that 400 USD had been transferred from the ART charitable organization to the Zartonk municipality for the treatment and rest of two soldiers who had participated in and been wounded during the four-day war, which, however, was not delivered to them.

On March 21, 2019, a criminal case was initiated at the Majoram Police Department on the basis of the features of Article 179, Part 2, Points 1 and 3, and Article 308, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code, which, according to jurisdiction, was sent to the Armavir regional investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee and accepted for proceedings.

A number of investigative actions have been carried out, including witness interrogations and examinations of documents submitted by the complainants.

Based on the sufficient evidence collected, on April 15, 2019, the community leader was charged under points 1 and 3 of Part 2 of Article 179 of the RA Criminal Code. A signature was chosen as a measure of restraint to ensure he would not flee.

The preliminary investigation is ongoing. Measures are being taken to ensure an objective, complete, and multifaceted investigation of the circumstances of the case.