Former Malishka Leader Sentenced to 4 Years in Prison

The former leader of the Malishka community in Vayots Dzor, M.M., was found guilty by the Court of General Jurisdiction of Ararat and Vayots Dzor marzes on April 28, 2023, of bribing voters during the parliamentary elections held on April 2, 2017. He was also convicted of misappropriating significant properties entrusted to him, using his official position, and committing official forgery in collaboration with a group of officials. This information was disclosed by the official website of the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia.

Specifically, during the pre-trial investigation, M.M. faced charges under Article 154.2, Part 2 of the Criminal Code (bribing voters), Article 179, Part 2, Points 1, 2, and 3 (gross embezzlement through collusion), and Article 314, Part 1 (official forgery).

The final punishment imposed on M.M. was imprisonment for 4 years and 2 months, during which he was also stripped of the right to hold positions in local self-governance for 3 years.

It is noted that M.M., during the pre-election phase for the parliamentary elections on April 2, 2017, as the head of the election headquarters for the Republican Party candidate in Malishka, conspired with another individual to distribute bribes amounting to 10,000 drams per vote (totaling 230,000 drams) to residents Kh.D., M.G., A.S., H.A., and N.Sh. in exchange for their votes in favor of his candidate.

Additionally, M.M. took advantage of his authority to manage the community's budget and, in collusion with his son V.M., the director of the Malishka Sports School, and his wife N.A., agreed to formally hire N.A. as a nurse at the sports school. Despite not showing up for work, N.A. received a salary amounting to 2,231,025 drams from January 1, 2016, until July 9, 2018.

Furthermore, M.M. conspired with A.V., the chief specialist-accountant of the Malishka community, to allocate and misappropriate funds from the community budget under the pretense of social assistance for 10 residents of Malishka. At the end of April 2017, A.V. handed M.M. 440,000 drams, which he subsequently appropriated.

In order to conceal the embezzlement, M.M. and a group of officials committed official forgery by preparing false official documents regarding assistance to socially vulnerable families in the community.

Charges have also been brought against V.M. for his role as the former director of the Malishka Sports School, N.A. for aiding in the embezzlement, and A.V. for misusing his official position.

On May 27, 2019, the criminal proceedings were sent to the Court of General Jurisdiction of Ararat and Vayots Dzor with an accusatory conclusion from the supervising prosecutor. On April 28, 2023, the court found M.M., V.M., N.A., and A.V. guilty of the charges against them.

V.M. received a penalty of 1 million drams in fines and was exempted from punishment under the conditions of a law related to the amnesty on the occasion of the 2800th anniversary of Erebuni-Yerevan. N.A. was similarly fined 800 thousand drams and exempted from punishment under the same law. A.V. was released from criminal liability due to the expiration of the limitations period.

The prosecuting prosecutor's claim for the recovery of 2,231,025 drams from M.M., V.M., and N.A. to the budget of Malishka community was granted, as well as a claim for the recovery of 30,000 drams from M.M. and A.V.

Notice: A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the law and a court ruling that has entered into legal force.