Video: Official Arrested in Diamonds Case - NSS

The National Security Service of Armenia, in its relentless pursuit of combating crime and in strict compliance with its legal responsibilities, has uncovered a significant case through extensive investigative and procedural actions, as well as complex operational measures. It has been revealed that a company operating within Armenia imported and declared 1,776.84 carats of processed diamonds from the United Arab Emirates under the customs procedure for 'internal consumption' with a goods invoice value of $148,535. The customs value of these diamonds amounted to 72,014,112 AMD. However, during the preparation of materials, it became evident that the market value of the diamonds imported under the aforementioned declaration exceeded 420,000,000 AMD. As a result, the state suffered substantial losses due to underreporting and unpaid customs duties.

Following an investigation initiated on September 24, 2020, by the Investigation and Operational Intelligence Department of the RA State Revenue Committee, the case was transferred to the investigative department of the NSS. It was found that A.N., the head of the Licensing and Permits Department of the Ministry of Economy of Armenia, acting as an official, had the authority to issue a state control act after conducting checks on goods imported by economic operators. He allegedly committed a manifestly illegal act by concealing the true value of the diamonds imported by the business entity, paying reduced customs duties, and failing to conduct the appropriate checks before issuing the state control act. For this, on September 6, 2020, he personally received a substantial bribe from the company's owners.

Following this, he instructed the legal advisor to the Minister of Economy, V.S., to compile and deliver a fraudulent state control act to the representatives of the company, which he subsequently did. Under pressure from irrefutable evidence and facts obtained in the criminal case, the legal advisor of the Minister of Economy provided confessional statements.

On January 26, 2021, A.N. was detained by the NSS Investigative Department on suspicion of receiving a large bribe. On the same day, other actual owners of the company operating in Armenia, as well as around a dozen individuals suspected or connected to the alleged crime, were also detained on charges of providing bribes and introducing clearly false information into official documents for selfish purposes or for personal or group interests.

Necessary investigative and procedural actions are being undertaken to determine the actual damage caused to the state as a result of the committed crimes, clarify the entire scope of individuals involved in the corrupt mechanism, and provide legal assessment corresponding to their actions. The National Security Service urges economic operators to conduct their activities solely within the legal framework and to refrain from corrupt practices.