Suspicion of Misconduct Against Armenian Representative in the Eurasian Economic Commission

A scandal is brewing within the Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC). Gegham Vardanyan, appointed as Deputy Minister of Transport, Communication, and Information Technologies of Armenia after the 2018 Revolution, has been suspected of waste and misconduct since taking the representative position for Armenia in the EEC in 2019.

According to sources within the commission, an internal investigation has been launched at the direction of EEC Collegium Chairman Mikhail Myasnikovich to clarify allegations of misappropriation of funds managed by Vardanyan and potential corruption risks.

The Armenian representative is suspected of misusing financial resources allocated for scientific research and violating rules for announcing tenders.

Reports suggest the investigation is based on information indicating that Gegham Vardanyan, leveraging his official position, has employed relatives, through whom he attempted to influence the redistribution of tenders. Specifically, he allegedly introduced new conditions for contractors that effectively eliminated the participation of existing companies, allowing new firms to win contracts through corrupt practices.

“Gegham Vardanyan performs ministerial functions within the EEC and is responsible for coordinating the work of internal markets and information systems, which he has literally failed to accomplish. There are already recorded instances where Vardanyan’s official inaction has led to the collapse of development efforts for an integrated information system intended to ensure the smooth operation of customs and other digitized common systems among the member countries of the Eurasian Economic Commission,” said a source from the EEC, emphasizing that there is a hypothesis suggesting that the Armenian side is intentionally displaying inactivity to undermine the commission's operations.