During the preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on 04.09.2018 under Part 2 of Article 308 of the RA Criminal Code in the Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Armenia on the basis of data regarding the commission of criminal acts during 2009-2018 by the officials involved in the elaboration and implementation of the “North-South Road Corridor Program” and investigated by the General Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee it was found out that B.D., a citizen of the Republic of North Macedonia, involved as an accused under Point 1 of Part 3 of Article 178 of the RA Criminal Code, being aware of the ban on crossing the border of the Republic of Armenia, in September 2019 formed an organized group with the involvement of citizens of Macedonia, Bulgaria and Ukraine, who developed a special mechanism for illegally crossing the border of the Republic of Armenia.

 

Firstly, with a view to hide their acts and not be in the spotlight of law enforcement agencies, the day of the EAEU summit - 01.10.2019 was considered as a suitable day for crossing the border of the Republic of Armenia, taking into account the workload of the officers working at the airport.

 

Then, having abused the trust of his former employee, by using his relations with NGOs operating in the Republic of Armenia, B. D. introduced some members of the group as members of organizations dealing with problems of children with autism in the Republic of North Macedonia.

 

Under this pretext, members of an organized group, including Z. S., arrived in Yerevan, met with the representatives of NGOs dealing with problems of children with autism. Then 4 of the organized group, including B.D., with the passport of Z. S., returned to airport ''Zvartnots'' and left Armenia.

 

During the preliminary investigation, it was found out that G. G, an employee of the Border Control Division of International Airport ''Zvartnots'', having shown an unfair and negligent attitude to the service, did not identify the person by photo, did not establish the person’s identity by checking the documents. And instead of taking the passport away, he put a stamp allowing him to cross the border of the Republic of Armenia.

 

After illegally crossing the border of the Republic of Armenia, B. D., the members of the organized group began to organize a pre-planned process for the return of Z. S. For this purpose, one of the members of the group arrived in the Republic of Armenia on 05.10.2019, handed Z. S. his passport and returned.

 

With a view to leave the territory of the Republic of Armenia, Z.S. bought a ticket on 08.10.2019 and headed to airport ''Zvartnots'', but he couldn’t leave because the passport control at the airport revealed the absence of an entry stamp and the latter was detained.

 

For the commission of these criminal acts Z.S. was charged under Article 326 and Part 2 of Article 329 of the RA Criminal Code, and in respect of him detention was chosen as a measure of restraint. And the employee of the Border Control Department of Zvartnots Airport G. G. was charged under Part 1 of Article 315 of the RA Criminal Code, and a recognizance not to leave was chosen as a measure of restraint.

 

This episode regarding the ''North-South Road Corridor Program'' was separated into a proceeding and preliminary investigation was announced completed.

 

The indictment regarding these 2 people was approved by the Senior Prosecutor of the RA Prosecutor General's Office and for consideration on the merits it was sent with the criminal case to the Court of General Jurisdiction of First Instance of Yerevan.

 

Notice: Every person suspected in or charged with a criminal offense shall be presumed innocent unless proved guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code and unless the verdict comes into legal force.