Former Yerevan Mayor Engaged in Illegal Transactions

The Armenian National Anti-Corruption Committee has revealed extensive evidence in a multi-episode criminal case, indicating that G. B., during his tenure as the Mayor of Yerevan and the head of the Kentron community from 2004 to 2010, used his official position against the interests of the service to acquire 27 properties valued at 2.327 billion AMD for associated individuals. This conduct resulted in severe consequences due to negligence, and he also legalized assets obtained through criminal means between 2004 and 2017.

Specifically, while serving as the mayor, G. B. included the reorganization of kindergarten No. 140 in the agenda of the community council meeting on December 25, 2008, with the intention of appropriating the property, which had a market value of over 233 million AMD, while concealing his plans from council members. Consequently, the council's decision reorganized the institution, merging it with another kindergarten in the same community.

It was also revealed that G. B. encouraged the former head of the Kentron community to lease the specified property to an associated individual by council decision, intending for it to be effectively transferred to him later. Afterward, to legalize the illegally obtained property, G. B. formally sold it for only 23 million AMD, a price significantly below the market value, through a facade of a sale agreement.

Following this, he reached a preliminary agreement with the individual to sell the same property to his father for 24 million AMD under a similar guise, making the property de facto G. B.'s own. This process concealed and distorted the origin of the assets obtained through illicit means.

Similarly, over 2 billion AMD worth of the remaining 26 properties belonging to the community of Yerevan were transferred to individuals associated with G. B. via direct sales, donations, or formal auctions. As a result, all the mentioned properties effectively became G. B.’s property.

G. B., the former head of the Kentron community, and his deputy have been charged with multiple counts of money laundering, incitement to commit such acts, and abuse of official authority. During the pre-trial investigation, G. B. restored approximately 210 million AMD, and a lien was placed on the 27 properties mentioned above equivalent to the damage caused to the state.

The pre-trial investigation has been completed, the prosecutor has confirmed the indictment, and the materials of the case have been sent to court.