Former Deputy Minister of Health of Armenia Arrested

In connection with a series of abuses committed at the "National Center for Tuberculosis Control" State Non-Commercial Organization, a criminal case has been initiated under Article 179, Part 3, Clause 1, and Article 308, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. On March 7, 2019, during the preliminary investigation conducted by the General Department of Investigative Committee of Armenia, former Deputy Minister of Health Vahan Poghosyan was charged with a criminal act stipulated under Article 308, Part 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

According to a decision of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Kotayk region on March 9, 2019, an alternative preventive measure of bail was applied to him in the amount of 5,000,000 AMD.

Based on factual data obtained during the further investigation of the criminal case, the charges against Vahan Poghosyan were modified and supplemented on August 11, 2020, and he was recharged with criminal offenses committed during 2015-2016 under Article 38-179, Part 3, Clause 1 and Article 311, Part 4, Clause 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code.

The accusation was made on the grounds that Vahan Poghosyan, as the deputy minister coordinating the activities of programs funded by the Global Fund and the U.S. Agency for International Development for the organization of medical assistance and services, prevention of tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS in Armenia, organized and led the siphoning off large sums of money amounting to 78,341,320 AMD from the funds transferred to the "National Center for Tuberculosis Control" State Non-Commercial Organization by the center's director, with assistance from two companies and the heads of these organizations.

More than two-thirds of this amount was allegedly funneled to Vahan Poghosyan, while the remaining 20,591,320 AMD was managed by the center's director for personal purposes.

Additionally, Vahan Poghosyan organized and oversaw the siphoning off of a total of 8,371,880 AMD from the "Social Support for Tuberculosis Patients" program, with two employees being formally registered and their salaries being collected by others.

Moreover, the former Deputy Minister of Health reportedly demanded a bribe in the form of a car worth 17,600,000 AMD bought for personal use under the guise of meeting the center's needs and ordered that its ongoing expenses be covered by the center’s funds, receiving a bribe in the form of 100 liters of gasoline vouchers each month.

A request for Vahan Poghosyan's arrest as a preventive measure was submitted to the General Jurisdiction Court of Yerevan on August 11, 2020, which was rejected by the court's decision on August 16. This decision was appealed by the Deputy Head of the Anti-Corruption Division of the Prosecutor General's Office supervising pre-trial proceedings.

On September 7, 2020, the Court of Appeal granted the prosecution's appeal, and Vahan Poghosyan was arrested as a preventive measure. Throughout various stages of this criminal investigation, charges have been brought against 12 individuals, including the director of the "National Center for Tuberculosis Control" A.H., who was subjected to an alternative measure of bail.