Property of Former Armenian Minister of Environment Seized

The property of former Armenian Minister of Environment Aram Harutyunyan has been seized. This was announced by the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia, indicating that the pre-investigation into a case of receiving a $14 million bribe has been completed through absentia proceedings.

Aram Harutyunyan and the other two accomplices, Suren Avagyan and Gagik Karapetyan, have been ordered to be detained as a preventive measure. In connection with the absentia proceedings, public criminal prosecution has been initiated against Aram Harutyunyan for receiving a particularly large bribe by an official, legalizing particularly large illegally obtained property, and abusing his official powers.

“He received a particularly large bribe of $14 million with the help of close associates and then legalized a particularly large amount of $5 million obtained through illegal means, as well as abused his official powers, which inadvertently led to serious consequences,” the statement said.

More than 30 properties and financial resources belonging to the accused have been seized. The properties seized include a building located at 4 Tigran Mets Avenue in Yerevan, a house at 50/1 K. Ulnetsi Street, 10/1 Davit Anhaght Street, apartments on J. Byron and G. Parpetsi Streets, and a garage.

Also seized are Aram Harutyunyan's bank accounts, which contain $1,704,000, €11,000, and 350 million AMD. The Anti-Corruption Committee noted that if a guilty verdict is rendered in the absentia trial, the aforementioned financial resources and properties will be confiscated for the benefit of the state.

It is reminded that according to the case documents, Aram Harutyunyan received a bribe from businessman Silva Hambardzumyan in exchange for granting 10 licenses to his companies to carry out mining activities. He also abused his authority, granting daily water usage permission to the “Dzhrajzor” HPP (owned by “Ani” LLC).

The pre-investigation revealed that former MP of the National Assembly Aleksan Petrosyan, former deputy director of a state agency operating under the Ministry, Suren Avagyan, former director of the Sevan Psychiatric Hospital Gagik Karapetyan, and other close associates of Aram Harutyunyan, Araks Dilyan and Viktor Martirosyan, were also involved in the corrupt acts.

It should be noted that a warrant for Aram Harutyunyan's arrest was issued in January 2019.