29-Year-Old Resident of Tashir Acquires 200 Bottles of Various Types of Fake Vodka

The investigation department of the Lori regional investigative office of the RA Investigative Committee has completed the preliminary investigation into the case related to the sale of counterfeit alcoholic beverages, separated from the criminal case initiated on the matter. The Investigative Committee reported this.

Based on the combination of the evidence obtained in the criminal case, it has been established and substantiated that a 29-year-old resident of Tashir city, after seeing an advertisement on the social media platform Instagram about the sale of various brands of vodka at prices lower than their cost price, reached a preliminary agreement with a friend and an unidentified person, without the presence of the corresponding documents required by law that prove the acquisition of the products. For one bottle, he paid 600 AMD and acquired 200 bottles of counterfeit vodka with fake excise stamps, which do not comply with the state standard HST 273-2007, and transported them to his friend's apartment.

The friend, assisting in the criminal actions, sold part of the mentioned counterfeit vodkas for 1000 AMD each, consumed 6 bottles, and 163 bottles were discovered during a search of the apartment. Based on the sufficient combination of evidence obtained, the friend's indictment was filed under part 1 of Article 38-207. As a measure of restraint, a signature was applied to him to not leave.

The matter concerning him has been separated into a separate proceeding, the completion of the investigation has been announced, and the criminal case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor with a request to confirm the indictment and forward it to the court. The preliminary investigation concerning the 29-year-old resident of Tashir was completed back in October, and the criminal case has been sent to the court with an indictment conclusion.

The proceedings regarding the preparation of counterfeit alcoholic beverages and false excise stamps have been suspended based on the first part of Article 31 of the RA Criminal Procedure Code.

Notification: A suspect or accused in an alleged crime is considered innocent until proven guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code, by a legally binding judgment of the court.