Land Plots in Geghamavan and Haghartsin Leased at Exorbitant Rates

Upon the instruction of the Chief Prosecutor of the Republic of Armenia, the Monitoring Center of the RA Special Investigative Service has begun investigations into the leasing of state and community-owned land plots in various communities across the country. These investigations are based on evidence of criminal activities and are ongoing, with the aim of launching criminal cases.

The RA Prosecutor’s Office communicated that the focus of the criminal proceedings is on the restoration of damages incurred by the communities and the annulment of illegal lease agreements.

In particular, under the direction of the Prosecutor's Office of Gegharkunik Province, it was discovered that on September 3, 2010, a lease agreement was signed for a 0.02-hectare land plot in the Geghamavan community between the former head of the community, M.V., and the driver of the former governor of Gegharkunik. The lease fee was set at only 3,000 AMD per year. Subsequently, on September 24, 2010, this individual signed a sublease agreement with a local telecommunications operator for 840,000 AMD per year, which is 280 times the initial lease fee. As a result, the legal interests of the Geghamavan community suffered property damage amounting to approximately 8 million AMD, resulting in severe consequences. A criminal case has been initiated by the police based on Article 308, Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code.

In another instance, the Prosecutor’s Office of Tavush Province conducted an investigation through the Dilijan Police Department and established that the head of the Haghartsin community, S.P., organized a formal competition in 2013 to lease a community-owned land plot. Consequently, on June 27, 2013, he signed a lease agreement with the only winning participant for a 0.2-hectare land plot for only 4,400 AMD per year for a term of 20 years. Shortly thereafter, this participant subleased a portion of the same agricultural land (0.02 hectares), which was used for grazing, at a rate of 960,000 AMD per year—a 218-fold increase. This led to damages amounting to a total of about 2 million AMD to the rights and legitimate interests of the Haghartsin community. A criminal case has been initiated based on Article 308, Part 1, and Article 315, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code in the Tavush Provincial Prosecutor's Office.

As a result of preliminary investigations, 4 million AMD has been recovered for the damages caused to the Geghamavan community, and measures have been undertaken to terminate the aforementioned unfavorable and illegal agreements. Furthermore, 1 million AMD has been voluntarily restored to the Haghartsin community, and the illegal lease agreements have been resolved by mutual consent. Investigations continue into the criminal cases, and efforts are being made to recover the total damage inflicted on the communities.