Details Revealed on the Arrest of the Director of the Forensic Medical Center

In the context of a criminal case initiated by the Anti-Corruption Committee, the director of the Republic of Armenia's Forensic Medical Scientific Practical Center, Mher Bisharyan, was charged and arrested yesterday, February 16. This information was confirmed by Marina Ohanyan, the spokesperson for the Anti-Corruption Committee, in a conversation with NEWS.am.

According to information from the media, the criminal proceedings leading to Bisharyan's arrest were initiated last year and pertain to alleged abuses during the procurement process. Specifically, it concerns a dubious contract signed three and a half years ago for the procurement of equipment intended for DNA identification examinations of war victims—a topic the media has covered in previous reports.

In particular, the Forensic Medical Scientific Practical Center announced a competition back in December 2020, aimed at acquiring analytical devices and kits for DNA identification examinations due to the state of martial law. As a result of this tender, a contract worth 295.8 million drams was signed with 'Medisar' LLC, a company engaged in the import and supply of laboratory equipment and chemicals. The media reported that as a result of the supplies related to the DNA identification examinations of the remains of war victims, there could have been excessive profits generated, and in 2021, urged law enforcement agencies to investigate the procurement process to ascertain how effectively public funds had been spent, whether officials had any connection to the profits gained from the contract, and whether there is indeed a case of misappropriation of public funds.

It is also possible that former Minister of Health and current MP from the ruling Civil Contract party, Arsen Torosyan, will be questioned within the framework of the ongoing criminal proceedings in the Anti-Corruption Committee, as the mentioned procurement process took place during his tenure.