No Suspects in Criminal Case Related to Arms Supply Tender, Investigative Committee Reports

The criminal investigation initiated based on the rejection of the application from the Russian company "Orsis Arms" for a closed periodic tender to procure a large batch of military supplies by the Ministry of Defense of Armenia continues. This was reported in an interview with Aravot by the spokesperson of the Investigative Committee of Armenia, Naira Harutyunyan.

"The preliminary investigation is ongoing, and necessary investigative and other procedural actions are being undertaken to clarify the circumstances mentioned in the application by Alexander Sirunyan, a representative of the company registered in Armenia and a lawyer at the Chamber of Advocates of Armenia," Harutyunyan stated, adding that there are currently no suspects or accused persons involved.

The Russian news agency TASS has denied the report by RIA Novosti that Russia is preparing to send a protest note to Armenia for the failure of the arms tender. RIA Novosti had reported that the Russian Ministry of Industry and Trade had prepared a letter addressed to Armenian Defense Minister David Tonoyan, stating that the application from the Russian "ORSIS" was rejected without justification.

According to sources cited by the media, the letter had already been forwarded to the Russian Foreign Ministry and was to be sent to Armenia, urging a review of the current situation and to provide directives regarding measures to be taken for resolution.

However, TASS agency has already denied RIA’s publication. In August, Alexander Sirunyan, a lawyer representing the resident company "Orsis Arms" in Armenia, submitted a complaint regarding the rejection of their application to participate in the tender organized by the Ministry of Defense for the procurement of a large quantity of military supplies based on false pretexts.

The preliminary materials prepared based on that complaint by the Military Investigative Department of the Investigative Committee of Armenia led to the initiation of a criminal case on August 17 under Part 1 of Article 376 of the Criminal Code of Armenia, which addresses negligence by officials causing significant damage, punishable by disciplinary confinement for a term of up to two years or imprisonment for up to three years.