A Public Criminal Prosecution Has Been Initiated Against Seyran Ohanyan

The Investigation Committee of the Republic of Armenia has completed the preliminary investigation into the criminal case regarding the abuse of official powers by the former Minister of Defense in the process of allocating apartments.

“During the preliminary investigation of the criminal case, substantial evidence has been obtained indicating that Seyran Ohanyan, while serving as the Minister of Defense, abused his official powers with the assistance of members of the Central Apartment Commission of the Ministry of Defense, causing significant damage to the rights and legal interests of various individuals. Specifically, on July 12, 2008, M.I., the head of the Internal Security Department of the Ministry of Defense's Administrative Staff, submitted a report requesting an apartment for his family to the head of the Administrative Staff of the Ministry of Defense. As a result, he was included in the housing registration process for military personnel who needed improved housing conditions.

Additionally, M.I. submitted a similar report to Minister Seyran Ohanyan on July 17, requesting the provision of housing in Yerevan. On that same day, Minister Ohanyan, in violation of the rules set forth by the Government of the Republic of Armenia's decision 384-N on March 7, 2007, which stipulates that the process of registering and providing accommodations to military personnel needing improved housing conditions is exclusively reserved for the commission, and not having any authority to intervene in said processes, motivated by his friendly relationship with M.I., tasked the commission with granting him housing on an exceptional basis.

During the commission meeting held on August 11, 2008, the chairman and members of the commission included M.I. in the housing registration list of military personnel needing improved housing conditions and then, during the same meeting, decided through a vote to allocate him a three-room apartment in Yerevan on an exceptional basis.

As a result, individuals who genuinely needed improved housing conditions within the Ministry of Defense were deprived for years of their legally guaranteed right to obtain apartments without consideration for social protection, causing significant damage to the rights and legal interests of these individuals.

Based on the decision of the supervising prosecutor, a public criminal prosecution has been initiated against Seyran Ohanyan under Part 1 of Article 441 of the Criminal Code (abuse of authority or official powers by a person in authority). The criminal case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor for approval and a request for submission to the court for consideration,” the Investigation Committee stated in a press release.