Details on Two Arrested Officials and Those Who Bribed Them

The National Security Service of Armenia has received operational information leading to a criminal case initiated within its investigative department and conducted by the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia. It has been revealed that T. M., holding the position of head of the division for organizing work with municipal services and management of multi-apartment buildings in the administrative district of Kentron in Yerevan, along with his colleague A. H., received a total of approximately 1.7 million Armenian drams in bribes from various individuals.

According to the data obtained during the preliminary investigation, the aforementioned officials used their official powers and the associated influence to benefit companies carrying out urgent works in the Kentron administrative district by providing leniency and protection. Specifically, on July 11, 2023, they received 1,000,000 Armenian drams in bribes from the director of a company in exchange for informing him about urgent procurement procedures and ensuring the mandatory participation of the business in those procedures.

Additionally, T. M., again in collusion with A. H., used their official powers to benefit N. A. and A. A. by ignoring and not recording construction works necessary for the installation of sidewalks in front of cafes belonging to them in Yerevan. They received around 700,000 Armenian drams in bribes from these individuals in July and August 2023.

On November 13, 2023, the two officials who accepted bribes and two individuals who bribed them were arrested. T. M. and A. H. have been charged under the second part of Article 435 of the Criminal Code of Armenia (two episodes), while the bribers are charged under Article 436, second part, points 1, 2, and 3. Applications have been submitted to the court for the application of detention as a measure of restraint for the accused. The preliminary investigation is ongoing.