Numerous Abuses by the Head of Ptghni Community, One Criminal Case Sent to Court: Prosecutor's Office

From 2018 to 2021, during the legal and professional supervision of the implementation of the local self-government powers by the Kotayk Regional Administration, facts were obtained regarding numerous apparent corruption abuses committed by officials in the Ptghni Community. These came to light following the instructions of the regional prosecutor's office and the preparation of materials by the police.

Specifically, it has been revealed that the head of the Ptghni community, A. V., provided 15 citizens with written certificates stating the absence of restrictions on certain plots of land within the administrative territory of the community, in violation of Article 60 of the RA Land Code. Based on these certificates, constructions were established in the security zones of underground gas pipelines and their connections, and the constructed unauthorized buildings and areas were privatized.

Furthermore, in another criminal case, it was found that a community-owned land area of 1.443 hectares was sold by auction through the community leader, despite the fact that this land, under the provisions of Article 60 of the RA Land Code, should not have been transferred to citizens and legal entities for ownership.

In February 2012, during the tenure of the current community mayor, the purpose of the water plot was changed by a decision of the community council, circumventing the legally established procedure, turning it into a site for public development.

In another case, between 2013 and 2016, various plots of agricultural or residential significance, totaling 10, were sold by auction, some of which did not comply with the requirements established by the RA Government’s decision No. 286 dated April 12, 2001. In certain instances, the architectural project package was missing from the auction package, and the announcement for organizing the auctions lacked information about the form of the auction and other additional conditions as required by law.

Some of the plots were auctioned off to the mayor's sons. Investigations revealed that signatures in the auction registration book had been forged against certain individuals' names. It was determined that some of the participants who submitted bids alongside the mayor's sons were absent from Armenia on the day of application. The auctions were conducted by the deputy mayor.

In another criminal case, it was proven that A. V. used a valuable mobile phone purchased for service purposes with community funds, which he had been entrusted with, and later gave it to his son, thus misappropriating significant community property. Following this, to conceal the misappropriation, about a month later, he falsified an inventory write-off act, declaring the phone and other items as unusable for further use.

In this criminal case, A. V. has been charged under Part 2 of Article 179 and Part 1 of Article 314 of the RA Criminal Code. He has admitted guilt, and the prosecutor’s office has submitted the criminal case against him to court, where the judicial examination is in the preliminary phase.

The preliminary investigation continues in the other mentioned criminal cases, with measures being taken to fully uncover the criminal abuses, legally assess the actions of those involved, and determine and restore the damages caused to the community.

Note: A suspect or accused is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedures established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the RA, with the court's legally enforced judgment.