New Revelation: Head of NSS Ararat Regional Department Involved in the Case

The National Security Service of Armenia, adhering to its approach of uncovering and eradicating corruption manifestations, is consistently undertaking effective measures across various sectors of public administration, including within the National Security Service itself, to reveal corrupt practices and implement the principles established by criminal procedural law.

Specifically, extensive investigative and procedural actions carried out by the investigation department of the National Security Service led to the initiation of a criminal case based on the characteristics outlined in Article 308, Part 2 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. These efforts, alongside comprehensive operational-intelligence measures, have uncovered illegal alienation of community-owned land in the Ararat region, organized formal auctions, and caused significant damage to communities, with public officials involved in concealing these crimes.

Those implicated in these activities include individuals holding positions within the communities of Mkchyan and Shahumyan, the Ararat Regional Administration, as well as personnel from the National Security Service.

It has been established that A.H., in his capacity as the head of the NSS Ararat Regional Department, abused his official position for personal gain, facilitating the long-term lease of a 0.9-hectare plot belonging to the municipality through his subordinate G.S. He influenced the head of the Mkchyan community, K.P., coercing them into abusing their official position to organize the lease of the aforementioned plot at a significantly lower rental price and under obstacle-free conditions.

Consequently, the community head, under the influence of a public official endowed with representative authority, agreed with council members to set the starting price of the community-owned land, valued at 11,117,800 AMD, at only 5,850,000 AMD. This arrangement allowed A.A. to win the auction by making just a single bid of 250,000 AMD, thereby acquiring property that had a cadastre value of 11,117,800 AMD, and registered ownership of it. As a result, the community lost a substantial income of 5,017,800 AMD due to the illegal transaction, significantly harming the community's legitimate interests and causing severe consequences.

During the pre-trial proceedings, sufficient evidence was also obtained indicating that the public officials within the NSS had not pursued the substantial misappropriation of funds involving responsible officials from the "Artashat" water users' association, failing to take any measures to uncover the evident crime.

In light of the collected evidence, the leaders of the Mkchyan and Shahumyan communities have been charged under Article 308, Part 2 and Part 1, respectively, of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Based on a decision by the investigative body, A.H. has been classified as a defendant and charged under Articles 38-308, 38-308, and 308, Part 1 of the Criminal Code. A.H. has been detained by a court decision.

Within the framework of the same case, individuals in a suspect procedural status, including the head of the land management department of the Ararat Regional Administration and officials from the NSS Ararat MV Artashat department, have also been interrogated and provided confessional testimony.

Active measures are being taken to uncover other criminal manifestations involving public officials and provide appropriate legal assessments.

The National Security Service reports that the process of self-purification within the system will be continuous, and the Service will maintain a zero-tolerance approach to eliminate corrupt phenomena and uphold the principle of equality before the law.

Citizens who have been victims of similar actions by other NSS officials are encouraged to contact the National Security Service, with guarantees of safety and confidentiality for those coming forward.

Notice: The suspect or accused is presumed innocent until proven guilty according to the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, by a legally valid court decision.