Bribery in Driving Tests: Charges Filed Against 20 Individuals

The Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia has confirmed that as a result of operational investigative measures and evidential actions carried out within a criminal case, it has been established that an official occupying the position of head of the registration and examination department of the Tavush region of the Ministry of Internal Affairs received a total of 5,830,000 AMD in bribes from more than ten citizens, with the intention of organizing formal theoretical and practical exams to obtain driving licenses, using his authority and influence with the assistance of various individuals. The amount of the bribe in each case ranged from 200,000 to 550,000 AMD.

It has been revealed that he had reached preliminary agreement with another official from the same department to conduct formal exams for citizens applying for driving licenses. The latter, at the behest of the department head, conducted formal theoretical exams for several individuals by connecting with technical devices outside the examination room to the computers and pointing out the correct answers to the questions.

The pre-investigation has shown that the accused created an illusion of 'objective' exams by assigning negative scores in several instances and then, violating the requirements of a government decision, organized a second exam and provided positive results, based on which driving licenses were issued.

The head of the registration and examination department of Tavush region has been charged under Article 435, Part 2, Clause 3 (16 episodes), Article 435, Part 2, Clauses 2 and 3, Article 441, Part 2, Clause 4 (11 episodes), and Article 46-445, Part 1 (13 episodes) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Another official from the same department has been charged under Article 441, Part 2, Clause 4 (11 episodes) and Article 445, Part 1 (13 episodes) of the Criminal Code. Both have been taken into custody as a measure of restraint.

Charges have also been filed against 20 other individuals who assisted the officials of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and provided them with bribes. For 13 of them, the pre-investigation has been completed, and the cases have been sent to the Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia with an accusatory conclusion.

The Anti-Corruption Committee informs that it is monitoring the legality of the processes for issuing driving licenses in all registration and examination departments of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and warns that every act of corruption will receive a legal assessment as provided by law. Citizens are urged to obtain driving licenses in accordance with the established legal procedure and to report any information regarding apparent crimes to the Committee.