Senior Officials Demanded Large-Scale Bribes: Details

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia has uncovered instances of senior officials demanding and receiving large-scale bribes between 2007 and 2009 as part of its commitment to enforcing anti-corruption laws.

Specifically, it has been established that in connection with a criminal case regarding the kidnapping of a resident of Yerevan, certain officials, operating within their powers to hold accountable a group of individuals presumed to have committed a serious crime, demanded and periodically received substantial bribes from the victim’s father through another senior official acting as an intermediary. This occurred during the 2007-2009 period. However, the individuals alleged to have committed the crime have yet to be held accountable. After numerous demands from the victim's father and relatives, the intermediary returned a portion of the bribe demanded, but refused to return the remainder, justifying this by stating that all potential measures had been taken by the recipients of the bribe to resolve the case positively.

A criminal case has been initiated by the Investigative Department of the NSS of Armenia under the relevant article of the Criminal Code regarding the receipt of particularly large bribes by officials. This case has been forwarded to the Office of the General Prosecutor of Armenia to resolve issues concerning investigative jurisdiction.