Vanadzor Prison Chief Demands and Receives $1,500 Bribe: Special Investigative Service

The Special Investigative Service of Armenia has reported that sufficient evidence has been obtained in a criminal case, revealing that officials at the Vanadzor penitentiary received bribes and abused their official powers in violation of service interests, causing significant damage to the state's legal interests.

According to the allegations, Artak Hovhannisyan, who has held the position of Chief of Vanadzor penitentiary since February 23, 2018, demanded and, with the assistance of a friend, received a large bribe equivalent to 1,500 USD, amounting to 725,740 AMD, from an inmate with considerable influence among the prisoners. Additionally, under the influence of selfish motives and contrary to service interests, he abused his official powers, specifically by instructing penitentiary staff not to close the doors of the cells of the inmate who provided the bribe and his 'protectors.' No actions were taken to confiscate mobile phones and other prohibited items kept illegally by these inmates, and in some cases, searches conducted in the cells were merely formal.

Furthermore, the investigation revealed that the security expert of the Vanadzor penitentiary, Artyom Asryan, also engaged in unlawful actions after receiving bribes from the same inmate. He secretly brought prohibited items into the regulated area of the penitentiary from his colleagues and handed them over to the inmate. A portion of the bribe was even transferred to the prison employee via an electronic payment system.

It was also established that Asryan accepted an offer of a 100 USD bribe from the same inmate to carry out unlawful actions, and he secretly introduced prohibited items, including a mobile phone, into the penitentiary's regulated zone for the inmate.

Moreover, Asryan willfully neglected his official duties for a prolonged period, especially in knowing that the inmate had acquired and was keeping prohibited items, including a mobile phone and a SIM card, in violation of internal regulations, without taking any measures to detect, seize, or report these items to his superiors.

For the commission of the aforementioned criminal acts, Artak Hovhannisyan has been charged under Article 311, Part 3, Clause 3 and Article 308, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Artyom Asryan has been charged under Article 311, Part 2, and Article 308, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia.

The preliminary investigation into the case of Hovhannisyan and Asryan has been completed. The case has been submitted to the supervising prosecutor with a request to forward it to the court.