Goris Community Leader Charged with Apparent Illegal Use of Subsoil Resources

The investigation is underway at the Main Department for the Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the Republic of Armenia's Investigative Committee regarding the apparent abuses of office by A. Arushanyan, the head of the Goris community. The charges include organization of illegal entrepreneurship, violations of the rules for the protection and use of subsoil resources, self-authorization, intentionally causing medium bodily harm, and attempting to organize and hold a gathering in violation of legal procedures.

It is noted that the criminal cases concerning the apparent criminal actions of A. Arushanyan have been consolidated into a single proceeding by the decision of the pre-trial body. This information is provided by the Information and Public Relations Department of the Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia, which has identified several circumstances of the cases during extensive investigative and procedural actions carried out throughout the pre-trial investigation.

Specifically, since taking office as the head of the Goris community in November 2017, A. Arushanyan, acting as an official carrying out organizational, managerial, and administrative functions in the local self-government body, has abused his official position for personal gain and organized illegal entrepreneurial activities without a contract and without the necessary special permits, thereby causing substantial damage to the legal interests of the community and society, as well as the environment and subsoil.

In pursuit of engaging in mining and mineral processing, the community leader registered the property rights to a 0.555-hectare agricultural land parcel located within the administrative boundaries of the Verishen rural community. Following this, with the decision of the Goris community council, he put it up for auction, which was won by a relative of his. Consequently, the land was sold through the mayor's decision and a real estate sale contract was signed. In June 2019, a limited liability company was established in the name of the same relative, which is effectively owned and managed by the community leader.

Without having the right (permit) for subsoil use and without a mining act, water use permits, and other necessary documentation, the company illegally carried out entrepreneurial activities from 2019 to 2020 in the administrative area of Verishen community, causing damages totaling AMD 16,867,785 to the community and society, and significant environmental harm.

Additionally, in January-February 2020, A. Arushanyan attempted to compel an employee of another company owned by his family to provide him with personal property as compensation for a reported shortage of approximately AMD 33,000,000. During a meeting, he resorted to physical violence and threats, demanding personal assets without any regard for the employee's consent. However, due to various circumstances, the crime was not completed.

Moreover, on August 28, 2020, he intentionally caused bodily harm to a community resident, resulting in significant injuries. This incident arose from a confrontation after he ordered the driver of his vehicle to stop another vehicle, leading to a physical altercation.

Furthermore, he attempted to organize and conduct a gathering without prior notification to the authorized body, which is a violation of the law, by calling the community residents to block entry to a location in Syunik province.

Based on the collected evidence, a decision has been made to charge A. Arushanyan as a defendant under several articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. A motion has been submitted to the court for the selection of pre-trial detention as a preventive measure against him.

It is important to note that a suspect or accused individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia through a legally binding court decision.