NSS Submits Motion to Arrest Vahagn Vermishyan

The National Security Service (NSS) has submitted a motion to the court to select arrest as a measure of restraint against Vahagn Vermishyan, the head of the Urban Development Committee.

It is noteworthy that Vahagn Vermishyan was detained for receiving a bribe in particularly large amounts. "There are factual data indicating that he has received bribes ranging from 1 million to 2.5 million drams on five occasions, both personally and through an associate, in exchange for actions benefitting individuals engaged in construction activities or representatives of construction companies, facilitating the swift adoption and issuance of desirable decisions for them last year.

He established a design company in the name of his associate and directed applicants among developers and individuals to make transactions with this company, taking measures to ensure the adoption of favorable decisions by state and local self-government bodies based on documents prepared by the company.

Moreover, on October 23, 2019, during a meeting in his office, the head of the Urban Development Committee reached an agreement with the owner of several construction companies to nominate him for the title of 'Honored Builder of Armenia,' in exchange for receiving a bribe amounting to $5,000 equivalent to 2,379,950 drams and construction materials worth approximately 2,300,000 drams," the NSS statement reads.

Within the framework of the criminal case initiated by the NSS, individuals suspected of committing the alleged crime have been detained, three of whom, including Vahagn Vermishyan, have been arrested. Moreover, the official who received the bribe confessed to the commission of the crime during questioning as a suspect. The pre-investigation continues.