Possible Arrest of Arsen Torosyan Soon: 'Zhoghovurd'

The circle around former Minister of Health of Armenia and current member of the National Assembly from the 'Civil Contract' faction, Arsen Torosyan, is tightening, and it is not ruled out that he may be arrested soon. This information has been reported by the 'Zhoghovurd' newspaper.

According to the online version of the newspaper, the investigative body is preparing to send him a notice to appear for questioning as a witness. 'Moreover, there are such facts against Arsen Torosyan in the Anti-Corruption Committee that a request will be submitted to the Attorney General for the initiation of public criminal prosecution against him and to lift his immunity,' the media outlet notes.

According to information obtained by 'Zhoghovurd', the interrogations in Torosyan's case are intensifying. 'According to our sources, the Deputy Chairman of the State Revenue Committee, Artyom Simbatyam, who was also a deputy minister of Torosyan during his tenure, has been questioned. For now, the law enforcement agencies have only questioned Simbatyam, and time will show what happens next,' the newspaper writes.

Directors of five hospitals that treated COVID-19 patients have also been questioned. Additionally, three heads of the former minister Torosyan's staff have been interrogated, two of whom, Lusine Kocharyan and Tsaghik Vardanyan, have even faced each other.

'There are witnesses testifying against Arsen Torosyan, which suggests that he may be arrested soon as well,' the newspaper adds.

Days ago, 'Hayastani Hanrayin' reported that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has instructed to investigate the assets of persons connected to members of the Civil Contract party, including distant relatives and friends, to understand who among his teammates is embezzling and who has enriched themselves.

The publication noted that a new motion might be presented to lift immunity, but this time concerning one of the Civil Contract MPs. Within the faction, it was speculated that this concerns Arsen Torosyan, given the criminal cases filed regarding abuses during his tenure as minister, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Yesterday, it became known that a search was conducted in the office of the former Deputy Minister of Health and current Deputy Mayor of Yerevan, Gevorg Simonyan. Later, the Armenian Anti-Corruption Committee announced that Simonyan and ten other individuals had been arrested. According to the Anti-Corruption Committee's statement, between 2020 and 2022, Simonyan, in his capacity as the Deputy Minister of Health, acted out of personal interest and did not carry out his official duties, causing significant damage to the legitimate interests of the state.

Simonyan was responsible for ensuring medical assistance and care services necessary for COVID-19, including the coordination of financing. Meanwhile, the consultant on pulmonology and tuberculosis at the Ministry of Health, L. Y., was appointed as responsible for the triage of patients confirmed with COVID-19 who were receiving inpatient treatment and were due for discharge.

Under the direction of the founder of 'Medline Clinic' LLC, B. Sh., at least 8 doctors from the medical institution included false information in the medical records of 385 patients treated in the hospital, claiming that the patients had received treatment in the intensive care unit. Based on these false reports, 'Medline Clinic' LLC received 119,005,000 drams for services that were never provided.