Driver's Licenses Obtained Through Bribery Recognized as Invalid

The National Security Service of Armenia has reported that driver’s licenses obtained through bribery will be deemed invalid. An investigation by the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia has revealed that A.G., an inspector in the Vanadzor registration and examination department of the traffic police, issued driver’s licenses to six individuals who paid bribes between February and May 2020. This was done without properly testing their theoretical knowledge and practical skills required for driving.

According to the evidence collected, A.G. has been charged with multiple offenses under various articles of the Armenian Criminal Code, including Article 308, Article 311, and Article 314. The court has ordered his incarceration. In September 2020, a decision was made to separate the cases of A.G. and one of the bribers, S.G., and send them to the first-instance court of the Lori region, where judicial proceedings are ongoing.

Charges have also been filed against six other individuals who provided bribes for obtaining their driver’s licenses. The case regarding them has been separated, and by September 2, 2020, it was sent to the first-instance court of the Shirak region. On May 3, 2021, the Shirak court found them guilty and imposed various fines.

The court confirmed that these individuals received “B” and “C” category driver’s licenses as a result of bribing the inspector without undergoing the necessary theoretical and practical examinations. In one case, an individual was allowed to take the practical test after passing the theoretical examination.

Following this ruling, the Prosecutor General of Armenia has addressed the Chief of Police, requesting the consideration of revoking the driving rights of these individuals once the court decision becomes final. Consequently, the Traffic Police has declared the driver’s licenses issued through this corrupt scheme, along with the theoretical test results for one individual, invalid. This approach will also be applied in the future.