Apparent Violations in the Process of Alienation of the Community Lands in Ptghni

The Kotayk regional governor has addressed a letter to the regional prosecutor concerning the gross violations of legislation in the alienation of the community-owned land in the Ptghni community.

This was reported by the Public Relations Department of the RA Prosecutor's Office. The letter and attached documents have been sent from the regional prosecutor's office to the Kotayk division of the Police with instructions to prepare materials regarding the mentioned circumstances.

Based on the prepared materials, factual data have been obtained indicating that a 1.443-hectare land plot, which belongs to the community in the administrative territory of Ptghni in the Kotayk region, has been presented for auction-sale by the community leader. An investigation conducted by the regional governor's office revealed that the land plot is subject to a non-privatization legal regime since it is a land area that cannot be transferred to citizens and legal entities in accordance with Article 60 of the RA Land Code.

On September 15, 2021, a relevant letter was sent by the regional governor's office to cancel the auction due to the aforementioned reason, with a proposal to present the land plot for new auction-sale only after removing the legal restrictions on its alienation.

However, under these circumstances, the auction process was continued by the Ptghni community council, and the land was alienated for 42,000,000 AMD during the auction-sale held on October 5, 2021.

Moreover, during the preparation of the materials, factual data were also obtained indicating that on February 13, 2012, the purpose of that land plot, which is considered water land, was changed by decision of the Ptghni community council, circumventing the legally established procedures, converting it into land for public construction.

A criminal case has been initiated in the Kotayk division of the Kotayk regional administration of the Armenian Police based on the characteristics of the second part of Article 308 of the RA Criminal Code, with the pre-trial investigation being conducted by the Investigation Department of Abovyan.