Officials Arrested for Demanding and Receiving Bribes from Armenian and Iranian Citizens

As a result of joint operational-investigative measures conducted by the Anti-Corruption Committee and the National Security Service, numerous instances of bribery have been uncovered involving employees of the Territorial Division of the State Construction, Technical and Fire Safety Inspection body in Syunik, who demanded and received bribes from citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran.

Specifically, within the framework of the criminal proceedings, factual evidence was obtained indicating that employees A. M., A. Gh., and V. M. were on duty at the heavy vehicle weighing checkpoint in the Sisian community of Syunik province from January to March 2023. They used a scale to determine that several freight vehicles driven by citizens of the Republic of Armenia and the Islamic Republic of Iran were overloaded, exceeding the legally permitted maximum weight. Subsequently, these officials, with the assistance of N. V., demanded and received bribes ranging from 20,000 to 60,000 AMD from the drivers in exchange for not drafting administrative violation reports.

A. M., A. Gh., V. M., and N. V. have been arrested. They have been charged under the 2nd part of Article 435, Clause 3 of the RA Criminal Code (receiving a bribe for illegal inaction) and Article 46-435, Clause 3 (assisting in receiving a bribe for illegal inaction). An investigation is ongoing,” the statement read.