Video: NSS Arrests Employees of Passport and Visa Department for Accepting Bribes

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia reported that as a result of operational data implementation at the Yerevan city administration, credible information was obtained regarding the illegal activities of officials in the passport and visa department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. Specifically, first-class specialists A.S. and L.H. from the Marash passport group allegedly demanded and received bribes from several individuals, including from persons indicated by them, while abusing their official positions for illegal actions intended to benefit these individuals in the administrative building of the mentioned passport group.

The NSS stated that a criminal case has been initiated in the investigation department of the NSS under relevant articles of the RA Criminal Code, and for further investigation, it has been sent to the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia.

Moreover, on February 6, 2023, a citizen informed the NSS about an apparent crime, stating that he had approached the Marash passport group to obtain an identification card, where employee A.S. demanded a bribe for its provision.

As part of the secret investigative action “Simulation of Accepting and Giving Bribes” conducted on February 10, 2023, the citizen provided A.S. with an already chemically marked bribe amount in the administrative building of the passport group. Following this, A.S. was arrested by NSS officers and presented the received bribe.

Following the operational and investigative activities conducted by the NSS and the Anti-Corruption Committee, A.S. and L.H. were apprehended and arrested. A court decided to apply detention as a preventive measure against L.H., while A.S. was subjected to house arrest as an alternative preventive measure. The pre-investigation continues, and various operational and investigative measures are being undertaken to uncover all circumstances of this multifaceted case.