Cases of Misuse of Authority by a Senior Official of the Armed Forces of Armenia Revealed

The Investigative Department of the National Security Service of Armenia has uncovered significant evidence during the preliminary investigation of a criminal case that indicates serious misconduct by a high-ranking military official, who is the head of the Aviation Department of the Armed Forces of Armenia.

The investigation revealed that this official, aware since 2011 that a supplier of weapons and military equipment was bound to return missiles from the years 1985-1991 due to their expiration and unsuitability for targeted use, conspired with other officials to misuse his position.

Specifically, the official facilitated the acquisition of these expired, low-quality missiles at a higher price than the market value, thereby allowing the supplier to clear its debt with the Ministry of Defense. In a remarkable breach of duty, the official approved a price of $1,100 per missile without conducting any comparative market analysis, resulting in an unreasonable purchase order for a large quantity of missiles.

Moreover, technical specifications associated with the contract were manipulated to align with the actually delivered products, misleadingly noting that the items met second-grade quality standards. Consequently, the contract for the procurement of these missiles amounted to 2,277,323,840 AMD.

The official did not conduct necessary checks or tests on the products and confirmed the receipt of unsatisfactory missiles through fraudulent documentation, thereby facilitating their acceptance into the Armed Forces' central warehouse. As a result, a substantial amount of 4,655,200 USD was unlawfully transferred to the supplier's account.

This deceitful action caused significant damage to the state, amounting to 2,277,323,840 AMD, which severely disrupted the normal functioning of the armed forces. The purchased missiles did not meet the required technical specifications or the defense needs of Armenia, and following their delivery, many were rendered unusable during the 44-day war that began on September 27, 2020.

In light of the gravity of these offenses, the former senior official of the Armed Forces has been arrested on charges of abuse of power and forgery. A motion has been filed with the court to apply imprisonment as a measure of restraint. Necessary investigative actions are underway to identify all individuals involved in the corrupt mechanisms and to assess their actions legally, aiming to restore the losses incurred to the state.

Note: A suspect or accused is considered innocent until proven guilty according to the law established by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia through a legally binding court decision.