Kostanyan on the Scandal Related to the ‘Business of Visas’ at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Armenian Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan himself filed a report to the Prosecutor's Office regarding an employee of the ministry after receiving information about what he described as a potential ‘business of visas’. He made this statement during a briefing with journalists following a cabinet meeting.

“He was not my driver, but the Foreign Ministry's, who has worked in the ministry even before I was appointed as Deputy Foreign Minister,” Kostanyan stated.

Earlier, the newspaper ‘Zhoghovurd’ reported on a scandal involving the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Armenia. According to the newspaper, an employee driver of the ministry, who, based on citizen testimonies, serviced Deputy Foreign Minister Vahan Kostanyan, allegedly took money from various individuals for assistance in obtaining entry visas.

Kostanyan noted that the report was submitted on September 14, and the driver was dismissed from his position on September 28. “However, he no longer served me after September 14,” he emphasized.

How the ministry's driver was able to engage in a “visa business” remains unclear. Kostanyan stated that an investigation has been initiated, and he hopes that both he personally and the public will soon learn how this occurred. Kostanyan is also unaware of whether the employee is currently in the country or has fled.