Large-scale damage inflicted on the community with the participation of former Vanadzor mayor: Investigative Committee

The investigative committee has completed the preliminary investigation regarding large-scale embezzlement and abuse of official powers involving former Vanadzor mayor Samvel Darbinyan. The Investigative Committee of the Republic of Armenia has presented details about the criminal case related to Samvel Darbinyan.

It was noted that, with Samvel Darbinyan's involvement, the Vanadzor community suffered damages amounting to nearly 400 million Armenian drams in total. According to the charges, from 1999 to 2016, while holding the office of Vanadzor mayor, Darbinyan sold the half-constructed building of the wastewater treatment plant owned by the community through a formal auction, causing significant harm to the community.

In 2005, he reached a preliminary agreement with the former head of the Armenian Police, Levon Yeranosyan, who at that time held the position of commander of the third army corps of the Ministry of Defense. The formal auction was attended by one Arthur Sarukhanyan, who had family ties with Levon Yeranosyan, with whom a sales agreement regarding the buildings was later signed, followed by the commencement of dismantling works on the buildings. This incident caused a loss of 177 million drams to the community (the buildings of the plant were valued at 240 million drams back in 2005, while Sarukhanyan acquired them for 63 million drams, with the difference being assessed as damage).

In the next episode, after realizing that the underground metal piping of the wastewater treatment plant was not included in the handover-acceptance act, Darbinyan initiated the process of stealing the piping valued at 244 million drams in order to use it for the construction of a small hydropower plant on the Marg river owned by himself and his brother, Seyran Darbinyan.

Darbinyan is also charged with money laundering. In total, during the preliminary investigation of the criminal case, public criminal prosecution has been initiated against five individuals.

It is worth noting that on June 23, Samvel Darbinyan and four others were arrested. Public criminal prosecution has been initiated against them. On June 24, it became known that house arrest had been applied to Samvel and Seyran Darbinyan.