David Tonoyan Arrested on Suspicion of Large-Scale Embezzlement: NSS

The Investigative Department of the National Security Service of Armenia continues the preliminary investigation into a criminal case initiated regarding the abuse of official powers by senior officials of the Ministry of Defense and the Armed Forces of Armenia in the process of supplying military equipment for the needs of the Armenian Armed Forces, as well as the commission of official forgery.

Within this context, David Tonoyan, who served as the Minister of Defense from 2018 to 2020, has been arrested on suspicion of embezzling particularly large sums of money. Alongside him, the director of the supplying organization, D.G., has also been detained. On the same day, both were implicated as defendants for embezzling an amount of 2,277,323,840 AMD and for committing forgery and publicly dangerous acts. Motion has been filed to the court to select detention as a preventive measure.

Additionally, within the framework of the criminal case, legal proceedings have been initiated against other current and former senior officials of the Armed Forces of Armenia for power abuse and official forgery, resulting in significant material consequences.

The National Security Service informs that extensive operational and investigative actions are ongoing within the framework of the criminal case to uncover the complete picture of the criminal mechanism for embezzling particularly large state property, to individualize the actions of other officials involved in the case, and to initiate criminal prosecutions against them.

Considering the priority of informing the public within permissible limits regarding the criminal case, the National Security Service of Armenia will provide periodic updates on the progress and results of the investigation of this high-profile case.

Simultaneously, we inform that the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia will persistently and rigorously fight against the violations that undermine the foundations of statehood, the procurement of low-quality weapons and ammunition that do not meet technical norms for the Armed Forces of Armenia, and will initiate criminal proceedings against all perpetrators to recover the damages incurred.

Notice: A suspect or accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty by a court verdict that has come into legal force in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.