Former Head of Nor Nork Transfers Nansen Park Land to His Wife

According to a decision made by the Mayor of Yerevan in 2013, a parcel of land located at Nansen Park in the Nor Nork administrative district, which was not subject to alienation, was sold for 3,712,464 AMD to D.P., the former head of the Nor Nork community, and his wife R.G., along with their son and daughter. On April 10, 2018, they sold a 76.8 square meter cafe located in the park and a 533.4 square meter plot of land for 45,790,000 AMD to a citizen named M.H.

The prosecution at the Avan and Nor Nork administrative districts has investigated the sale of the cafe located at 26 Nansen Street within the framework of a lawsuit aimed at protecting state interests. The investigation revealed that, based on a decision made by the Mayor of Yerevan on August 30, 2006, a temporary structure of cafe No. 741, occupying an area of 533.4 square meters on Nansen Street, was granted for free (permanent) use to the community administrative institution of the Nor Nork district under the governance of “Yerevan Nor Nork Community Head’s Office.” A contract was signed between the municipality and community leader D.P., and a certificate of ownership was issued, indicating that the purpose of the land was designated for “settlements” and its intended use was for the construction and operation of a cafe.

On November 6, 2006, per decision No. 310, the constructions of 76.8 square meters were sold directly for 1,485,000 AMD to R.G., D.P.'s wife. On January 19, 2007, a certificate of ownership was issued in the name of D.P. and R.G. The type of land rights was specified as “Lease,” and it was noted in the “Additional Notes” section that the parcel fell within the restrictions listed in Article 60, Clause 6 of the Land Code (non-alienable lands).

Following D.P.'s death, R.G., along with her daughter and son, inherited the property on September 2, 2010, along with other assets, and received a certificate of ownership restating that the land was included in the restrictions of Article 60, Clause 6 of the Land Code.

On November 16, 2012, R.G. sent a letter to the City Hall indicating that the boundaries of the park had been clarified, that their occupied land was not within the boundaries of the park, and requested direct alienation of the 533.4 square meter plot. The heads of the City Hall’s Real Estate Management Department and the Architecture and Urban Development Department concluded that the land did not fall under the restrictions of Article 60 of the Land Code, even though R.G. submitted a copy of the ownership certificate stating its inclusion in the restrictions list.

As a result, a draft decision from the Mayor of Yerevan was prepared, signed by competent city hall officials and the head of the Nor Nork administrative district. Thus, on February 25, 2013, the Mayor signed a decision to alienate the land for direct sale at 3,712,464 AMD to R.G., her son, and daughter, who sold the 76.8 square meter cafe and the 533.4 square meter land on April 10, 2018, for 45,790,000 AMD to M.H.

Taken into account the evidence collected during the investigation indicating that officials from the Yerevan City Hall created a forged plan and conclusion in November 2012 and unlawfully alienated the 533.4 square meter land, the Avan and Nor Nork Prosecutor's Office submitted a report to the Anti-Corruption Committee on May 19, 2023. That same day, the Anti-Corruption Committee initiated a criminal proceeding under Article 308 (abuse of official authority) and Article 314 (forgery by an official) of the Criminal Code adopted on April 18, 2003. The Prosecutor General, in the framework of the authority to propose a lawsuit for the protection of state interests, will file a suit in the Administrative Court to return the community-owned property to the community.

Note: A person charged with a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedures established by the Code of Criminal Procedure, by a court decision that has entered into legal force.