Criminal Proceedings Initiated Against Former Chief Architect of Yerevan Tigran Barseghyan

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Tigran Barseghyan, the former chief architect of Yerevan, on charges of official negligence. The information was provided by the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia.

The criminal case relates to damage caused to a monument-building located on Arami Street. According to the statement, Tigran Barseghyan (who held the position of chief architect from August 8, 2013, to June 19, 2018), allowed the construction company 'Old City' LLC to carry out construction work on August 18, 2017, next to the building of the 'Little Armenian Singers' International Association' charity organization, without the professional conclusion and consent of the Ministry of Culture of Armenia.

The company signed a construction agreement on September 20 of the same year with 'AvagyanBridge' LLC, which has the relevant license and conducted earth removal, raising, and transportation works in the specified area.

“As a result of the construction works, the building located at 23 Arami Street, owned by the 'Little Armenian Singers' charity organization, and the apartment number 3 in the same building, owned by citizen M.S., were endangered, negligently damaged, and partially collapsed, causing particularly large damages amounting to 125,467,000 AMD,” the statement said.

Within the framework of the criminal case, Barseghyan has been charged under Article 315, Part 2 of the Criminal Code (official negligence), while H.H., a participant and director of 'AvagyanBridge' LLC, is charged under Article 264, Part 4 (destruction or damage to historical and cultural monuments).

The criminal proceedings were sent to the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan on March 22, 2023, based on the indictment approved by the senior prosecutor of the Department of Crimes Against State Power of the Office of the Prosecutor General of Armenia.