Criminal Prosecution Against Ruben Hayrapetyan Will Not Be Pursued

The Investigative Committee of Armenia has revealed the circumstances surrounding an incident of official forgery that took place in the Armavir municipal administration in January 2010. Following extensive investigative and procedural actions conducted by the Main Investigation Department for Particularly Important Cases, it was determined that the former head of the Armavir community, his deputy, assistant, head of the legal department of the community administration, and a first-category specialist from the same department were involved in drafting, signing, and circulating a false protocol concerning the results of a competition.

This false protocol, dated January 25, 2010, was created without conducting a competition, granting a 75-year construction right for a 360.0 square meter plot of land, which is prohibited from alienation under Article 60 of the Land Code of the Republic of Armenia, to Ruben Hayrapetyan, a former member of the National Assembly with family ties to the chairman of the commission.

It was found that Ruben Hayrapetyan did not participate in the said competition as he was outside the Republic of Armenia during that time. Based on the sufficient evidence obtained, charges were brought against the former deputy of the Armavir community leader and the first-category specialist of the legal department for committing official forgery under Part 1 of Article 314 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. A measure of restraint in the form of a signature not to leave has been applied to them.

As for the chairman of the commission and the other members, alongside Ruben Hayrapetyan, decisions were made not to pursue criminal prosecution against them due to the expiration of the limitation period for criminal liability for the alleged crime. The pre-investigation has been completed, and the criminal case has been referred to court with an accusatory conclusion.

Note: A suspect or accused in an alleged crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia and by a legally binding court verdict.