Prosecutor's Office Recovers AMD 151,713,273 in Damages to the State

The Prosecutor's Office of Armenia has recovered damages amounting to AMD 151,713,273 incurred by the state in four proceedings related to the import of gold ingots from the Russian Federation to the Republic of Armenia. This information has been reported by the press service of the General Prosecutor's Office of Armenia.

In particular, during October-November 2022, gold ingots that are of evident commercial quantity and qualify as goods of the Eurasian Economic Union's product status were discovered in the luggage of travelers arriving from Russia at Zvartnots Airport. The size of these ingots exceeded the non-commercial quantity established by the decision of the Government of Armenia, which is 10 kilograms.

“On October 27, 2022, public criminal prosecution was initiated against seven individuals. On May 29, 2023, the criminal prosecution initiated against the defendants was suspended based on the first clause of Article 12, part 1 of the Criminal Procedure Code (rehabilitation grounds),” the statement read.

Subsequently, the prosecutors of the Prosecutor's Office's Department for Crimes Against Economic Activity applied prosecutorial measures, which resulted in changes to the charges against the seven individuals. Their actions were reclassified under Article 290 of the Criminal Code (failure to pay taxes, duties, or other payments).

Based on part 5 of Article 290 of the Criminal Code (if a person has fully paid the unpaid taxes, duties, or other payments, and the fines calculated for their non-payment, they are exempt from criminal liability), decisions were made not to initiate criminal prosecution against these individuals, including on grounds that are not rehabilitation-based.