233,470,000 AMD Embezzlement: Gagik Beglaryan Wanted

The National Security Service of Armenia, adhering to its policy of eradicating various manifestations of corruption and restoring damages caused to the state, has uncovered a case of embezzlement of particularly large sums through the abuse of official powers in local self-government bodies.

According to the obtained factual data, a public official who held the positions of head of one of the communities in Yerevan and later the Mayor of Yerevan, based on personal interests, misused their official position. By doing so, they embezzled real estate worth 233,470,000 AMD, which was the kindergarten operating on Tamanian Street in Yerevan.

To complete the mentioned embezzlement, the official, by grossly violating the provisions and procedures of current legislation, conducted an official forgery. Based on the illegal decision of the council, on December 25, 2008, they ensured the reorganization of the community non-commercial organization, which was the kindergarten, and its merger with another kindergarten. Then, on March 16, 2009, while holding the position of Mayor of Yerevan, the official modified the operational designation of the 228.3 square meter space by their decision, moving it to the non-residential fund as a service area.

After that, this real estate was sold at an evidently inadequate price of only 23,120,000 AMD, and on February 2, 2011, a purchase and sale contract registered it in the name of the aforementioned official's father for 24,000,000 AMD. Subsequently, under the inheritance certificate of the will, it was re-registered as the property of his son.

As a result of this, not only were local self-governing bodies discredited and their normal activities disrupted, but the operation of a separate preschool educational institution was also halted, leading to severe consequences. This official misused their position and embezzled real property belonging to the Republic of Armenia, amounting to 233,470,000 AMD.

A criminal case has been initiated under relevant articles of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia by the investigative department of the NSS regarding the aforementioned crimes. The mentioned official has been charged. Considering that he has left the territory of Armenia, he has been declared wanted, and the court has chosen detention as a preventive measure.

The pre-trial investigation is ongoing, and data has also been obtained regarding the alienation and embezzlement of 27 other real properties through the same method. Extensive investigative and operational measures are being undertaken to locate the accused, identify all individuals involved in the corrupt chain, and provide a proper legal assessment of the actions.