Woman from Tsovinar Offered Bribe to Obtain Benefits

The Criminal Procedure Control Division of the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia is investigating various criminal cases based on complaints filed by representatives of different state bodies regarding the bribery of officials by citizens in exchange for actions taken in their favor.

In particular, on February 21, 2022, based on a complaint received from an employee of the Martuni Territorial Center of the Unified Social Service of the Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs of Armenia, a criminal case was initiated. The investigation established that due to a procedural action conducted by this employee in July 2021, the entitlement of A.D., a resident of the Tsovinar community in the Gegharkunik region, to receive social benefits was terminated. During the subsequent period, she repeatedly approached the territorial center, requesting the restoration of her right to receive benefits. For the last time, on February 7, 2022, around 11:00 AM, she visited the center and met with the head of the social work and employment programs division in a consultation room. During this meeting, to ensure the restoration of her entitlement to benefits, A.D. took out 50,000 Armenian drams from her jacket pocket and offered it as a bribe, placing the money under some papers on the office desk before leaving.

Subsequently, at the request of the division head, the citizen was called back and asked to retrieve the bribe money, which she did before leaving the premises. For this criminal act, the resident of Tsovinar has been charged under Article 312, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. The investigation has concluded, the prosecutor has confirmed the indictment, and the criminal case has been sent to the General Jurisdiction Court of Gegharkunik region for substantive examination.

In another instance, based on a complaint filed with the Anti-Corruption Committee by a senior investigator from the investigative division of the Ajapnyak and Davtashen administrative districts, a criminal case was initiated on February 26, 2022, which established that V.G., who reported a fraudulent large-scale property theft case being investigated by the mentioned investigator, visited the investigator's office on February 24, 2022, at 11:00 AM and submitted a request to take measures to return his “Mercedes-Benz” vehicle, which was the object of theft. Meanwhile, for actions taken in his favor regarding the prompt confiscation and return of the vehicle, as well as to secure a favorable attitude from the investigator during the investigation, he offered 200 US dollars by placing them in an envelope on the investigator's desk. However, at the investigator’s request, he took back the money and exited the office. About five minutes later, V.G. re-entered the office, placed the money back on the desk, and left again, ignoring the investigator's demands to return. Immediately after this, the investigator reported the incident to the head of the investigative division. On March 3, 2022, V.G. was charged under Article 312, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia. He acknowledged his guilt and provided a confession.

The supervisory prosecutor also confirmed the indictment in this criminal case, and it has been sent to the court of first instance for substantive examination.

Previously, the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia indicated that several criminal cases have been initiated and are under investigation concerning numerous instances of drivers offering bribes to police patrol officers to avoid administrative liability for traffic violations.

These facts demonstrate a deepening and expanding culture of tolerance towards the corrupt practice where officials are offered various forms of bribery in exchange for actions taken in favor of citizens. The Prosecutor General's Office emphasizes that it is a crime to offer any form of bribe in exchange for an official to carry out or refrain from carrying out actions within their authority. Such acts can result in punishment, including imprisonment for up to three years. All citizens are urged to refrain from attempting to resolve their issues through illicit means aimed at offering bribes to public officials in any manner.