The Lesson of the NSS to the Attorney General

According to the "Zhoghovurd" newspaper, based on the materials of the criminal case initiated on July 22 by the Investigation Department of the National Security Service of Armenia, the acting Attorney General's decision has involved Senior Prosecutor L. K. of the Attorney General's office as a defendant for receiving a large sum of bribe.

What has the NSS uncovered? Information has been obtained indicating that the senior prosecutor of the Attorney General's office used their official position to intervene in the parole process of G. G., who was sentenced to 10 years in prison for robbery under aggravating circumstances in 2013 and was serving his sentence in the corresponding penitentiary facility. During the review of the petition for early conditional release, the prosecutor failed to object to the claim, and if the court approved the request, it would not be appealed. In this way, the prosecutor allegedly sought to ensure a favorable outcome for the convict and demanded a substantial bribe from a close person of the convict in June 2019.

The acting Attorney General has suspended Senior Prosecutor L. K. from duty. A motion has been submitted to the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction requesting that L. K. be selected as a preventive measure in custody. The pre-investigation continues.

Who is G. G.? Detailed information regarding the NSS's findings has been disclosed to the "Zhoghovurd" newspaper, particularly about the convict the senior prosecutor intended to influence for early conditional release. Consequently, an analysis of court databases, combined with information provided by law enforcement, indicates that G. G. likely refers to Gurgen Galstyan, whose criminal case was filed in the Armavir Regional Court on August 30, 2012.

Law enforcement has charged Gurgen Galstyan, claiming that on November 3, 2009, around 2:00 AM, he conspired with Manuk Manukyan, Arsen Grigoryan, Romen Barseghyan, and Anushavan Sahakyan to commit robbery and theft. They drove to the Zvartnots neighborhood of Ejmiatsin city in his "Renault" vehicle. Romen Barseghyan remained in the car, keeping watch, while Gurgen Galstyan, Anushavan Sahakyan, Manuk Manukyan, and Arsen Grigoryan, armed with a gas pistol and knives and wearing masks, broke down the door of a house on M. Mashtots St. 32, illegally entered the residence, and tied up the sleeping couple, Porsor Arjami Navoyan and Moscow Sabri Davoyan, using physical violence that endangered their lives and health. The assailants inflicted serious injuries on Moscow Davoyan and stole cash and valuables worth 908,000 AMD, including 1,600 euros, 10,000 AMD, and a Samsung mobile phone valued at 25,000 AMD, before fleeing the scene.

That is to say, Gurgen Gasparyan has been charged under Article 175, Part 3, Point 3 of the RA Criminal Code for the commission of robbery-related offenses. The Armavir Regional Court found Gurgen Gasparyan guilty under Article 175, Part 3, Point 3 of the Criminal Code on August 22, 2013, sentencing him to 10 years in prison without confiscation of property. It should be noted that Gurgen Gasparyan filed an appeal with the RA Court of Appeals and the Court of Cassation, but the decision remained unchanged.

However, there are two significant aspects in this story. According to the law, criminal prosecution against prosecutors is initiated by the Attorney General of Armenia; however, judging by the circumstances, the NSS has presented such materials and evidence to the Attorney General that the acting Attorney General Artur Davtyan had no choice but to involve Senior Prosecutor L. K. as a defendant for receiving a large bribe.

Details are in today’s edition of the newspaper.