Evidence of Significant Embezzlement in the Union of Artists of Armenia: Criminal Case Initiated

The president of the Union of Artists of Armenia sent a report to the Prosecutor General's Office of Armenia on September 25, 2019, detailing violations in the financial and economic activities of the union during 2017-2018.

The Central Division of the RA Police has been instructed by the Prosecutor's Office of Yerevan's Central and Norq Marash administrative districts to prepare materials in accordance with Articles 180-181 of the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia.

According to the materials prepared, it has been established that during the years 2017-2018, responsible individuals in the Union of Artists of Armenia embezzled property and monetary assets belonging to the organization amounting to approximately 50,000,000 AMD through obvious misappropriation or wasteful methods.

Specifically, preliminary data indicates that without necessary justifications, reports, and documents, funds were withdrawn in both cash and non-cash forms for transportation fuel expenses, business trips, and certain services rendered. Additionally, significantly less income was recorded for rental payments compared to what was agreed upon in contracts for the use of property and buildings owned by the organization. There have also been no records of payments for property tax and land tax.

Considering that the materials prepared contain characteristics of apparent criminal acts, a criminal case has been initiated in the Central Division of the Police of Armenia under Article 179, Part 3, Clause 1 of the Criminal Code. The criminal case has been sent to the investigative division of the Investigative Committee of Armenia in Yerevan for further investigation. An investigation is currently underway.