20 Million Dram Compensation Paid in Illegal Resource Use Investigation

During the investigation of a criminal case regarding illegal resource use, a co-owner of an LLC has paid compensation amounting to 20,000,000 AMD. This was announced by the Investigative Committee of Armenia.

"In the Armenian Investigative Committee's Ararat regional investigative department, within the framework of the ongoing criminal case, investigative and procedural actions revealed that during 2013-2014, the co-owner of the LLC, while being obliged to use the lands according to their intended and functional purpose, conducted work on mineral extraction in violation of the terms of the contract and project in the lands owned by the community of Apaga in the Ararat region and several individuals. During the mentioned period, the use of land and subsoil was carried out by violating the regulations for extraction, transportation, storage, utilization, and preservation of minerals, resulting in significant damage to the environment and subsoil.

As a result of a comprehensive judicial ecological and forensic accounting examination appointed during the investigation, the volumes related to the extraction of the gravel mixture by the company were determined, both in lawful and unlawful use and preservation of the subsoil, as well as the extent of damage caused to the state, including the impact on land resources. The co-owner of the LLC has paid compensation amounting to 20,000,000 AMD. The investigation continues," the statement reads.

Note: A person accused of a crime is presumed innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia and by a legally binding court decision.