A Doctor Arrested in Artsakh; Prosecutor’s Office Urges Victims to Contact Authorities

Based on a notification submitted to the General Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Artsakh, criminal proceedings initiated on 30.09.2021 have been investigated through close collaboration among the National Security Service, the Police, and the Ministry of Health of Artsakh, as well as the investigative group established within the Investigative Committee of Artsakh. The evidence gathered through their investigative and procedural actions has allowed the prosecution to conclude that Karen Terteryan, a surgeon-proctologist at the "Republican Medical Center" LLC of the Ministry of Health, fraudulently solicited and appropriated money from multiple individuals from August to November 2021.

Evidence indicates he obtained a total of 250,000 AMD from a resident identified as Zh.H. in Stepanakert under false pretenses of helping to determine their disability status. He also misled residents R.T. and M.S. from the displaced community of Taghaser in Hadrut, promising to secure them jobs at the private clinic "Davidants," from which he illicitly obtained 360,000 AMD and 350,000 AMD, respectively. Furthermore, he deceived resident M.A. in Stepanakert by falsely representing a medical intervention as a paid service, in a context where scheduled surgeries were temporarily halted and urgent medical assistance was to be provided free of charge, obtaining 70,000 AMD under false pretenses for the Republican Medical Center.

As a result of the described actions, on 12.12.2021, Karen Terteryan was charged under several articles of the Artsakh Criminal Code, including Article 184 (Fraud) and Article 37 (Incitement to Attempt Bribery). A motion was filed on the same day by the investigator for the suspect's detention, which was granted by the first instance court on 13.12.2021. During the investigation, further criminal acts of a similar nature committed by Terteryan have come to light, facilitated by operational and investigative measures, as well as voluntary reports from citizens.

Thus, we inform the public that if you have been a victim of actions by Karen Terteryan, you may file an appropriate report with the Investigative Committee or the Prosecutor’s Office of Artsakh.

Note: A suspect or accused person is considered innocent until proven guilty according to a legally binding court decision, in accordance with the rules set forth in the Criminal Procedure Code of Artsakh.