National Security Service Discovers Cases of Illegal Payments by Social Welfare Employees in Gyumri

The National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia conducted a series of operational-investigative measures that revealed evidence that A.E. and E.B., heads of the territorial social assistance departments No. 1 and No. 2 in Gyumri, along with their subordinates, have been unlawfully demanding and receiving payments from socio-economically disadvantaged citizens for years, either personally or through various intermediaries. This was reported by the NSS.

On June 30, 2020, at 10:30 AM, territorial department employee A.H. was apprehended shortly after handing over a sum of 100,000 AMD collected from socially disadvantaged citizens to department head A.E. A subsequent personal search of A.E. revealed the illicit payment of 100,000 AMD.

Following this incident, criminal proceedings were initiated on June 30, 2020, based on the elements of crimes provided under points 1, 2, and 3 of part 3 of Article 311.1, and part 1 of Article 312.1 of the RA Criminal Code.

Extensive criminal procedural and operational-investigative measures revealed that for years, up until June 30, 2020, a group of employees from social assistance territorial departments had collaboratively implemented a premeditated corrupt scheme, illegally appropriating funds allocated by the state for socially disadvantaged citizens, either transferring them to families that did not need assistance or demanding illegal payments in return for the aid.

The investigation found that the mentioned employees of the social assistance departments had demanded and received illegal payments ranging from 30,000 to 60,000 AMD from families registered in their territorial department during each documentation process. Part of these funds was kept by the employees themselves, while the rest was passed on to their superiors.

Additionally, public servants who were not holding official positions collected 18,000 AMD from the funds allocated to citizens for three months of assistance, of which 10,000 AMD was given to the department head and 8,000 AMD kept by themselves.

During the investigation, searches were conducted at the homes and offices of several dozen employees, resulting in the confiscation of notebooks containing handwritten notes with the details of citizens who provided illicit payments to public servants, cash that constituted illicit payments, and records of personal data and phone numbers of recipients of social assistance.

Several citizens who provided illegal payments were identified and interrogated, admitting that they had given illicit payments to the heads of social assistance territorial departments or their employees for months or even years to receive benefits or get involved in relevant assistance programs. They detailed the amounts paid each time.

Moreover, the citizens reported that the collection of these funds was widespread and that they were unable to receive benefits or participate legally in accessible social assistance programs without making these illegal payments.

Based on direct suspicions related to the commission of the crime, six employees of the social assistance territorial department have been arrested, including the department head and chief specialists. More than ten employees have been placed under a preventive measure of not leaving the country.

Most of the employees involved as suspects in the criminal proceedings have, under the pressure of undeniable evidence, provided self-incriminating testimony and detailed the corrupt mechanisms that operated in their territorial department for years, including the identity of citizens who demanded illegal payments, the monthly amounts of unlawfully obtained income, and the methods of managing and distributing these funds.

Urgent investigative and other procedural measures and operational-investigative actions are being taken to clarify the full scope of individuals involved in the commission of the crime, identify other citizens who provided illegal payments, and assess the actual extent of the damage caused to the state.

The NSS of Armenia calls on citizens to report immediately to law enforcement agencies any requests, acceptance of illegal payments, or other illicit actions by public servants.

Simultaneously, it is noted that under Article 312.1 of the RA Criminal Code, an individual providing illegal payment is exempt from criminal liability if the payment was extorted, and the individual voluntarily reported to law enforcement agencies about the illegal payment before the authorities became aware of it, but no later than three days after the commission of the offense, thereby assisting in the disclosure of the crime.