Former Vanadzor Community Leader Caused 60 Million Dram Damage to Community

Investigations and other procedural actions conducted by the Lori regional investigative department of the RA Investigative Committee have revealed the circumstances surrounding the abuse of official powers and official forgery by the former leader of Vanadzor community, Samvel Darbinyan, who held the position from 1999 to 2016, the RA Investigative Committee's information and public relations department reports.

The investigation has gathered factual data indicating that during his tenure as the leader of the Vanadzor community from 1999 to 2016, he, as a public official, due to personal interests and contrary to the interests of the service, organized a competition for the lease of a 1,900 square meter area located at 1 Tigran Mets Street in Vanadzor in 2003. His brother, who did not have the right to participate in the competition, was recognized as the winner, after which the leased area was given to his private company, causing significant damage to the community.

Additionally, on February 16, 2004, a structure located at 850 square meters at 1 Tigran Mets Street in Vanadzor, with a cadastral value of 3,845,400 AMD, was registered as the property of his son for only 371,620 AMD, resulting in substantial damage to the community.

The investigation has established that during 2002-2006, the community leader registered various areas with different sizes located at various addresses in the same city in the names of his relatives, which resulted in damages amounting to around 60 million drams to the community. Based on sufficient evidence, the Vanadzor community leader has been charged under parts 2 (4 episodes) and 1 of Article 308 and part 1 of Article 314 of the RA Criminal Code.

Preliminary investigation has been completed, and the criminal case has been sent to court with an accusatory conclusion.

Notice: The person suspected of the alleged crime or charged is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the RA criminal procedure code and by a court verdict that has entered into legal force.