Hundreds of Citizens Did Not Get Vaccinated but Received Fake Vaccination Certificates

Criminal manifestations aimed at undermining the state's efforts to implement preventive and anti-epidemic measures against the coronavirus pandemic have become particularly relevant and alarming. As a result of operational-investigative measures carried out by the Police of the Republic of Armenia and particularly the National Security Service since April 2021, it has been revealed that numerous staff members of several medical institutions systematically abused their official positions, forged documents, and engaged in bribery during the process of implementing measures to prevent the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Specifically, various officials from health institutions, along with other governmental bodies, authorized to organize the vaccination process against the Covid-19 pandemic, in collaboration with representatives of medical personnel, failed to vaccinate hundreds of citizens with the prescribed vaccines and dosages. Instead, they issued fake certificates attesting that those individuals had received one or two doses of the Covid-19 vaccine and entered this fraudulent information into the unified electronic health system, ARMEN.

In some cases, the identified corrupt practices were related to providing negative results of PCR tests for citizens, including travelers arriving in Armenia, regarding the diagnosis of the coronavirus disease. Specifically, certain epidemiologists and individuals with specific functions in medical institutions prepared and sold fake negative coronavirus test results to individual citizens, including incoming travelers, which they presented upon request. As a result, these individuals were allowed to move freely into the Republic of Armenia without undergoing testing, even if they would receive positive results and thus be subjected to mandatory self-isolation or hospitalization if necessary.

Due to these illegal actions, the mentioned citizens were able to evade anti-epidemic restrictions in Armenia and foreign countries, endangering the effectiveness of the state's preventive and anti-epidemic measures aimed at preventing the spread of the disease and maintaining the health of the population amid the pandemic.

Moreover, it has been found through substantial evidence that medical officials and other authorized personnel providing medical services received bribes ranging from 5,000 to 40,000 AMD from citizens who obtained fake vaccination certificates or fake negative test results without sampling.

The National Security Service of Armenia and the Police have initiated 20 criminal cases regarding these criminal acts, which pertain to numerous medical facilities primarily polyclinics in Yerevan City, Shirak, Ararat, and Gegharkunik provinces. Preliminary investigations have revealed that approximately 310 citizens received fake certificates indicating vaccination or, to a lesser extent, fake negative coronavirus test results based on these criminal acts.

Through the ongoing investigations, dozens of searches have been conducted, and cash that was given as bribes has been discovered and seized. Lists containing the data of individuals who received fake certificates while not being vaccinated have also been obtained. Many healthcare workers involved in these corrupt criminal schemes have provided confessional testimonies.

Based on sufficient evidence, charges have already been brought against a total of 15 individuals, 9 of whom have been arrested. These criminal cases are currently in the investigation stage. Under the vigilant oversight of the Prosecutor's Office, extensive investigative, procedural, and operational measures are being undertaken to uncover similar manifestations and reveal the complete network of individuals involved in the identified cases, providing legal assessments of each individual's actions.

The Prosecutor's Office of Armenia warns that such abuses pose a serious threat to the nation's health security and hinder the effectiveness of the anti-epidemic measures and public health protection efforts conducted by the state. In light of the aforementioned, both citizens and healthcare workers involved in the prevention of the Covid-19 pandemic are urged to refrain from such irresponsible actions which jeopardize both their health and that of the public and are subject to criminal prosecution. The Prosecutor's Office's approach in such cases will be uncompromisingly strict, and all necessary lawful measures will be taken to hold all individuals who commit such crimes criminally liable.