Former Syunik Governor Surik Khachatryan Misused Official Powers and Committed Official Forgery: NSS

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia has uncovered a case of apparent abuse of official powers and official forgery within the framework of its operations aimed at combating corrupt practices.

According to preliminary data obtained through operational and investigative measures taken by NSS employees, in 2016, the then governor of Syunik, knowing that individuals with whom he had strained relations had acquired land to build a hotel complex, issued instructions to local self-government officials to facilitate the sale of the access area adjacent to that land to a person he indicated, with the goal of creating artificial obstacles to the business activity and undermining the investment project.

Authorized individuals organized the sale by creating false documents regarding the auction of the land, which led to the effective deprivation of the owner of the developing area from the opportunity to manage and use the land. A criminal case has been initiated in the investigative department of the NSS based on apparent criminal activity, in accordance with the relevant articles of the RA Criminal Code.

An investigation is underway.

Note: A person suspected or accused of a crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia, by a legally binding court decision.