Berd Community Leader's Deputy Arrested

The investigation by the Tavush Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee continues regarding the case of coercing participation in the elections of local self-governing bodies held in Berd community on September 25, 2022. This was reported by the RA Investigative Committee.

“We previously informed that on September 25, 2022, during the local self-government elections in Berd community, the secretary of the Berd community administration and the administrative head of the Inner Karmiraghbyur settlement, by supporting the ‘Zoravor Community’ alliance and utilizing their powers and influence, had coerced the acting director of the ‘Inner Karmiraghbyur Kindergarten’ legal entity by threatening to terminate the employment contract concluded between the community leader and the director, forcing this person to join the mentioned alliance and conduct propaganda in favor of it, thereby coercing him to abandon campaigning for his preferred party,” the statement reads.

The statement continues: “Seeing that the acting director did not yield to their threats and did not comply with their demands, in a more forceful manner to influence his will and consciousness, a notification was sent under the signature of the deputy of the Berd community leader to suspend the action of the aforementioned contract, but upon learning that he was planning to report their criminal actions to law enforcement, they did not terminate the employment contract.”

According to the source, considering that there are also sufficient grounds for initiating criminal proceedings against the deputy community leader’s actions, the prosecuting authority has submitted a motion to the supervising prosecutor regarding initiating public criminal prosecution against him, which was granted.

It is noted that based on a sufficient combination of evidence, charges have been brought against him under points 3 and 5 of part 2 of Article 211 of the RA Criminal Code. A petition has been submitted to the court regarding the application of pretrial detention as a measure of restraint, which has been granted.

The RA Investigative Committee reminds that earlier charges were also brought against the secretary of the Berd community administration and the administrative leader of the Inner Karmiraghbyur settlement under points 3 and 5 of part 2 of Article 211 of the RA Criminal Code. Pretrial detention was selected as a measure of restraint for them as well. The investigation is ongoing.