Prosecutor's Office Appeals the Acquittal Verdict of Serzh Sargsyan

The Prosecutor General's Office has appealed the acquittal decision to the anti-corruption court. On May 31, 2024, the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction published the verdict in the case of the third President of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, whereby he was acquitted.

Serzh Sargsyan was accused of organizing the embezzlement of 489 million 160 thousand drams by a group of official persons in 2013, through mismanagement of state resources. The case pertains to alleged abuses in the fuel supply process. Initially, five individuals were charged in the case. Four of them, including Serzh Sargsyan, former owner of the 'Flash' company, Barsegh Beglaryan, former Deputy Minister of Agriculture, Samvel Galstyan, and the head of the Plant Production Department of the same ministry, Gevorg Harutyunyan, were charged under part 1 of Article 179, part 3 of the Criminal Code (organizing, inciting, or assisting in embezzlement or misappropriation of particularly large amounts). Former Minister of Agriculture Serge Karapetyan was charged under part 1 of Article 179, part 3 of the Criminal Code for embezzlement or misappropriation of particularly large amounts.

During the trial, Samvel Galstyan and Serge Karapetyan passed away, and criminal proceedings against them were terminated. Barsegh Beglaryan and Gevorg Harutyunyan, also associated with 'Flash' company, were acquitted as well. It is noteworthy that the statute of limitations for this case had expired, which also served as a basis for not issuing a conviction verdict.