VIDEO: A Corruption Scheme Involving Employees of the Territorial Development Fund

The National Security Service of Armenia has uncovered a corruption scheme involving certain employees of the Territorial Development Fund based on operational information received. During a series of complex operational and investigative measures, it was revealed that officials have demanded and received significant bribes from representatives of construction companies that were recognized as winners in procurement processes.

According to information from the NSS, specifically, based on the factual data in the prepared materials, an official responsible for implementing the programs of the Territorial Development Fund, who constantly performs the functions of a representative of power in a state body, demanded a bribe of 25,000,000 AMD from the owner of a construction company that won a tender for the construction of a secondary school worth about 1.8 billion AMD conducted by the fund in July 2021. This bribe was requested in connection with the sponsorship of the works on the construction of the aforementioned school, including facilitating the unobstructed acceptance of the current completion acts presented to the fund.

The official received 5,000 USD equivalent to 2,404,100 AMD in September 2021. Following the operational activities carried out by the personnel of the Economic Security and Anti-Corruption Department of the NSS, on November 12, 2021, after receiving another portion of the bribe—4000 USD equivalent to 1,900,760 AMD—the official and the briber were apprehended and taken to the NSS. During a personal search, the cash bribe was found with the official.

The materials prepared regarding the incident have been transferred to the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia, where a criminal case has been initiated under the relevant articles of the Armenian Criminal Code. The official and the individual who bribed him have been arrested, and an investigation is underway.

Operational and investigative measures are being implemented to clarify all aspects of the corruption scheme and to provide legal assessments corresponding to each act involved.

The NSS informs that it will continue to fight targeted against various corrupt phenomena that undermine the economic foundations of the state, revealing and preventing their further expansion.