Vahagn Vermishyan Arrested, Confesses to Accepting Bribe

The National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia, adhering to the principle of eradicating various manifestations of corruption, has obtained factual information as a result of operational-investigative measures and investigative actions carried out within its legally reserved functions. It was revealed that the head of the RA Urban Development Committee, as a public official, used his official position contrary to the interests of the service and based on personal interests. According to agreements reached with individuals engaged in construction work or representatives of construction companies, he received large and especially large bribes ranging from 1,000,000 to 2,500,000 AMD, through either direct transactions or via intermediaries, in five instances throughout 2019. In exchange for these bribes, he facilitated actions or expedited the decision-making processes in favor of these individuals.

To conceal the bribery, violating the ban on engaging in entrepreneurial activities, he established a design company in the name of an acquaintance. He directed developers and individuals who approached him to enter into transactions with this company in order to obtain material advantages, taking steps to secure favorable decisions by the state and local self-government bodies based on documents prepared by the company.

Additionally, during a meeting in his office on October 23, 2019, the head of the RA Urban Development Committee reached an agreement with the owner of several construction companies to nominate him for the title of ‘Honored Builder of Armenia,’ receiving bribes amounting to 5,000 USD equivalent to 2,379,950 AMD and approximately 2,300,000 AMD worth of construction materials.

A criminal case has been initiated regarding the apparent criminal offenses under the relevant articles of the RA Criminal Code within the framework of the investigation by the RA NSS Investigative Department. The alleged perpetrators have been detained, including three individuals, among them the aforementioned committee head, who confessed to committing the crime during interrogation as a suspect. The preliminary investigation continues.

Notice: The suspect or accused of a presumed crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in accordance with the procedure established by the Criminal Procedure Code of the Republic of Armenia.