Misappropriations at the 'Yerevan Waste Collection and Sanitation' Facility

There are mixed times at the Yerevan municipality's 'Yerevan Waste Collection and Sanitation' community facility. An employee (who wished to remain anonymous) has reported various misappropriations occurring at the facility. According to Hraparak.am, 'Numerous financial and material misappropriations have been uncovered at the waste collection facility of the Yerevan municipality. Specifically, the director of the facility, who is a close friend of Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan, has hired numerous employees who have not actually attended work but have received bonuses amounting to millions of drams, which have been transferred to the facility's director, Armen Grigoryan. There have also been losses identified involving spare parts, fuel, and items such as tires intended for sending to the border during wartime.'

It is noteworthy that this facility has previously been involved in corruption scandals. However, several employees were dismissed to cover up those facts. This time, evidence of misappropriations came to the attention of the council's 'My Step' faction, after which regulatory and law enforcement bodies initiated large-scale inspections at the waste collection facility, which, according to circulating news, have been confirmed. Many employees have already been interrogated.

The employee also conveyed to us that the director has recently fired the head of the waste collection department. 'He has even brought in his own person and placed them in the office to give instructions to the workers.'

Armen Grigoryan told us in a conversation that, yes, inspections had taken place, but stressed that no misappropriations had been discovered as a result. 'The law enforcement agencies conducted an inspection, but there is no such thing; this is a transparent facility, such a situation does not exist.' He confirmed that the head of the waste collection department had changed, but stated that his friend did not replace the previous one. 'The head of the waste collection department has changed, but nothing has changed in the facility; that facility has 850 employees; one can leave and another can come. The previous head was named Ashot, then it was Arthur, and now it's Hrach; I don't remember the last names. I only associate with my childhood friends; in my work, there is not a single employee who is my friend; they are all colleagues. I have childhood friends with whom I go out of town to eat and drink, and that’s how I understand friendship.'

Armen Galjyan, the head of the city council's 'My Step' faction, did not deny our information regarding the misappropriations. 'As long as there is no statement from the law enforcement agencies, I will refrain from commenting,' he stated, adding that he has nothing further to add to this response.