NSS Reveals New Discovery

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia has made a new disclosure regarding an ongoing investigation.

As a result of measures taken by the staff of the NSS regional department in Gegharkunik Province, it has been revealed that on December 4, 2015, within the framework of the “Armenian Territorial Development Fund” program, a contract was signed between the head of the implementing committee of the community of Tsakqar, the community leader, and the director of the contractor company. The contractor committed to carry out reconstruction and capital repair works on one of the kindergartens in the community, including the installation of a solar water heating system, for the amount of 163,799,534 AMD.

Within the framework of the contract, the leadership of the contractor company, taking advantage of the opportunities provided by the contract, allegedly colluded with the representatives of the company carrying out the technical supervision of the works, with the intent to embezzle a particularly large sum of money. During the implementation of the reconstruction and capital repair works of the kindergarten from 2015 to 2017, they used homemade and low-quality materials, falsely claiming that they were suitable for operation. However, the solar system has not functioned since its installation, leading to an unjustified transfer of 11,999,165 AMD to the contractor for work that was either not done or poorly executed.

Simultaneously, factual data were obtained indicating that the community leader, as a member of the commission accepting the construction object for operation, neglected his official duties, failing to record the facts of inferior and incomplete work. Instead, for selfish or personal interest, he allegedly colluded with other members of the accepting commission and on October 2, 2017, they prepared and circulated a fraudulent final act of construction completion, containing false information regarding the compliance of the works with the project assignment. This allowed the contractor to fraudulently embezzle the sum of 11,999,165 AMD for works that were either of poor quality or not performed at all, causing severe consequences for the legitimate interests of the state.

Criminal proceedings have been initiated in the Investigative Department of the NSS under the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.

Note: A person suspected or accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty by a legally binding court decision in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.