Paravakar Community Leader Charged with Abuse of Official Authority

The Investigation Committee of Armenia has confirmed details of significant abuses committed by the head of the Paravakar community in the Tavush region as part of an ongoing criminal case.

According to the data obtained during the investigation, the head of Paravakar, who has held the position since 2002, was officially aware of community-owned property valued at 10,358,821 AMD. To ascertain the market value of this property, on April 18, 2015, he made the necessary inquiry to a licensed private company conducting real estate valuations in the country. The company's director provided a valuation report on April 20, 2015, stating that the property was actually worth 8,720,000 AMD and went on to inform the community leader that as of April 20, 2015, the market value of the property could be set at 1,150,000 AMD.

Subsequently, on October 23, 2017, using his official position for personal gain, the community leader organized and conducted a public auction for the community-owned property, setting a significantly lower starting bid of 1,150,000 AMD. As a result, the auction was won by his nephew, who acquired the property valued at 8,720,000 AMD for only 1,265,000 AMD, causing substantial financial damage to the community's rights and legal interests.

Based on the collected evidence, the head of Paravakar has been charged under part 1 of Article 308 of the Armenian Criminal Code (abuse of official authority). A preventive measure has been imposed on him in the form of a signature not to leave. The preliminary investigation is ongoing.