Funds for Vulnerable Families and Tuition Reimbursements Misappropriated in Two Shirak Communities

Operative information has been received by the Shirak regional department of the police, including from the NSS, regarding several financial misappropriations during the tenure of former leaders in two rural communities of Shirak, Armenia. It has been reported that funds allocated for socially vulnerable families and tuition reimbursements have been misappropriated or wasted from the community budgets. This information comes from the Office of the Prosecutor General.

Specifically, during the preparation of materials, it was discovered that during G. S.'s time as the head of the community in the village of Zuygakhbyur from 2008 to 2016, a total of 2.4 million AMD was withdrawn from the community budget based on decisions of the council, ostensibly for student tuition. Allocations were made to individuals who were not community residents, including relatives of council members, as well as to a person who was a community resident but had not yet completed school. However, there are no documented bases, including orders for the disbursement of approximately 1.8 million AMD of this amount as tuition.

Additionally, G. S., the former head of the Zuygakhbyur community, withdrew approximately 2 million AMD from the community budget under the guise of organizing summer camps for children, which he unjustifiably provided as social assistance to six community residents, including individuals with family ties to him, community employees, and a council member. No supporting documents related to these actions have been established.

These actions have caused significant damage to the legal interests of the community. In another case, during A. H.'s term as the head of the Aregnadem community from 2010 to 2015, substantial amounts totaling 1.4 million AMD were withdrawn from the community budget on behalf of 27 residents to provide financial assistance to socially vulnerable families based on council decisions. However, the indicated residents did not receive the allocated funds.

To fully, objectively, and comprehensively clarify the described circumstances, and considering that the former leaders of these communities have contested the rejection of criminal proceedings based on the statute of limitations, criminal cases have been initiated at the Shirak Regional Prosecutor's Office. Specifically, a criminal case has been initiated concerning the Zuygakhbyur community under Parts 1 and 3 of Article 179 and Part 1 of Article 308 of the RA Criminal Code, while the case related to the Aregnadem community is also based on Parts 1 and 3 of Article 179.

The criminal cases have been forwarded to the Shirak Regional Investigative Division of the RA Investigative Committee for further investigation.

Notice: An individual suspected or accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty under the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia by a legally enforceable court judgment.