Investigation Completed in Bribery Case Involving Over 40 Voters in Noramarg Community

The investigation into a criminal case regarding bribery of more than 40 voters in the Noramarg community of Ararat province has been completed by the Special Investigative Service of Armenia.

According to the agency, V. Hovhannisyan, head of the election headquarters of the "Honorary" political alliance in the Noramarg community, in preliminary agreement with three residents of the community, offered and provided bribes to voters to vote in favor of the aforementioned alliance during the extraordinary elections for the National Assembly of Armenia.

It was revealed that V. Hovhannisyan, coordinating the activities of the election headquarters, made a preliminary agreement with his associate N. Manukyan at the beginning of June 2021 to bribe residents of the Noramarg community with 15,000 AMD for each vote in favor of the alliance. Subsequently, on June 16, 2021, Hovhannisyan personally handed Manukyan a total of 240,000 AMD and then 300,000 AMD for this purpose.

N. Manukyan, in turn, reached a preliminary agreement with residents E. Karapetyan and I. Avetisyan to bribe voters to vote for the "Honorary" alliance. According to the agreement, from June 16 to June 18, 2021, Hovhannisyan and Manukyan, along with Karapetyan and Avetisyan, distributed a total of 645,000 AMD as bribes to more than 40 voters in the Noramarg community, providing each with 15,000 AMD to vote in favor of the alliance.

Charges have been brought against V. Hovhannisyan, N. Manukyan, E. Karapetyan, and I. Avetisyan under Article 154.2, Parts 4, paragraphs 1 and 2 of the Armenian Criminal Code for offering and giving bribes to two or more persons in agreement. Hovhannisyan has been subjected to pre-trial detention, while the other defendants are under a signature not to leave.

The investigation has been completed, and the criminal case has been sent to the prosecutor's office with an indictment for approval and subsequent referral to the court.