Charges Brought Against Ashotyan's Driver Aram Barseghyan, Released on Signature

In light of the allegations regarding large-scale embezzlement from the state budget by Aram Barseghyan, the driver and assistant to former Armenian Minister of Education and Science Armen Ashotyan, the Special Investigative Service of Armenia (SIS) has issued a statement in response to unfounded claims circulated recently on social media regarding purported political persecution of Barseghyan. Acknowledging the public's right to impartial and complete information, the SIS deemed it necessary to clarify the following.

Barseghyan was formally charged on August 15, 2019, under articles 38-179, part 2, point 2 (two episodes) and 38-179, part 3, point 1 of the Armenian Criminal Code. Between 2009 and 2016, while serving as both driver and later assistant to Minister Ashotyan, Barseghyan misused his official position, illegally registering himself as a guard and worker at the Yerevan State College of Tourism, Service, and Food Industry, as well as a driver at the Kotayk Regional State College from 2011 to 2016. Following Ashotyan's dismissal in March 2016, he was registered as a driver at the Armenian State University of Economics for the period of 2016-2017 through Ashotyan's mediation.

Throughout the years 2009-2017, Barseghyan never attended work at these positions but continued his duties as Ashotyan’s assistant and driver, accumulating a total of 8,734,118 AMD (Armenian drams) which contributed to the misappropriation of funds by the management of these institutions.

Barseghyan has fully accepted his guilt, confessed to the crimes, expressed remorse for his actions, and has fully compensated the material damage caused to the state. Considering these circumstances, the prosecuting body concluded that there are no grounds for implementing custody measures against the defendant, thus Barseghyan has been released from detention with a signature obligation not to leave. The pre-investigation continues. Measures are being taken to identify the full range of individuals involved in the crimes.

The Special Investigative Service urges the public to refrain from spreading irresponsible, politically motivated statements regarding criminal cases through social media and mass media.