The Union of National Anti-Corruption Control sent a letter to the RA Prosecutor General stating that the alleged illegal actions were committed by the former and current mayors of Artashat. In particular, during the tenure of the former mayor of Artashat, the unfinished building of Artashat children's art school was sold at an auction and bought at a price below the market price.

By the instruction of the Prosecutor's Office of Ararat region, on the basis of the report, based on materials prepared in Artashat Division of the RA Police, a decision was made to refuse to initiate a criminal case on the basis of the absence of corpus delicti, due to the fact that in the above case sufficient grounds were not obtained to confirm the crime and were wasted means to obtain new evidence.

 

The Prosecutor's Office of Ararat region verified the legality of the decision to refuse to initiate a criminal case, as a result of which it was established that the measures taken to identify the real circumstances of the case were not complete. In the course of familiarization with the materials of the Prosecutor's Office of the region and studying the results of requests of the State Committee of the Real Property Cadastre of the Republic of Armenia, such circumstances were also established that require a full, objective and comprehensive investigation.

 

In particular, it was established that the former mayor of Artashat G.M., by the decision of March 31, 2006, for Artashat Art School with the right of gratuitous use allocated a land plot with an area of 2331.0 sq.m. On 08.11.2006 in the municipality of Artashat, an auction of the unfinished building of the Children's Art School was held. The auction was attended by the son of the mayor of Artashat G.M., deputy head of Artashat S.M., and bought the said building for 7.155.000 AMD.

 

In spring 2020, this building was sold for 90.000.000 AMD. It was also found out that, according to the certificate of state registration of rights in relation to real estate, in relation to the specified land plot /0.2331 ha. / was registered the right of "joint ownership" under the name of 2 individuals.

 

Taking into account that data containing signs of a criminal act regarding the use of their official position contrary to the interests of service by the officials of Artashat municipality in the Prosecutor's Office of Ararat region the decision to refuse to initiate a criminal case was rejected and under Part 2 of Art. 308 of the RA Criminal Code a criminal case was initiated. 

 

For the preliminary investigation, the criminal case was sent to the Investigative Department of Ararat region of the RA IC. The preliminary investigation is still in process.

 

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.