In the result of preliminary investigation initiated on 7 March 2019 at the Department of CSI of the RA Investigative Committee under Article 179, Part 3, Point 1 and Article 308, Part 1 of the RA Criminal Code for abuses at “National Center for Tuberculosis” SNCO, V. P., the former RA Deputy Minister of Health was charged for criminal act under Article 308, Part 2.

 

According to the decision of March 9, 2019 of General Court of First Instance of Kotayk Region, bail in the amount of 5.000.000 AMD was applied as an alternative preventive measure.

 

The charge against V. P. was changed, supplemented on August 11, 2020 on the ground of factual data obtained during the further preliminary investigation of the criminal case, and he was again charged under Article 38-179, Part 3, Point 1 (2 episodes) of the RA Criminal Code for committing crimes during 2015-2016 under Article 311, Part 4, Point 2 of the RA Criminal Code.

 

The charge was filed against V. P. for organizing medical service in the RA against tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS. V. P. was the coordinator of the actions organized by the financial means of the USA International Development Agency, the Global Foundation against HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis and the USA International Development Agency. the Director of “National Center for Tuberculosis” SNCO with involvement of the Heads of NGO and 2 LTDs have regularly embezzled particularly large amount of money – 78.341.320 AMD, out of which more than 2/3 was handled to V. P, as an organizer and the other part 20.591.320 AMD was used by the Director of the Center for personal purposes.

 

In addition, the former RA Deputy Minister of Health has also organized and leaded the embezzlement by the Director of the Program for Social Assistance of Tuberculosis Patients with particularly large amount 8.371.880 AMD for fictive registration and taking their salary instead of them.

 

Besides, the former RA Deputy Minister of Health also demanded bribe in the form of a vehicle bought for 17.600.000AMD as if for the needs of the center, as well as took bribe in the form of petrol bills for 100 liter every month.    

 

On 11 August 2020 a petition was submitted in the Court of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan City on applying detention, which was refused by the Court’s Decision of August 16.

 

An appeal was filed by the Deputy Head of the Department for Combating Corruption Crimes of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office.

 

By the Decision of September 2020 of the RA Criminal Appeal Court the appeal was upheld, V. P. was detained.

 

12 people have been charged with the mentioned criminal case including A. H. Director of the “National Center for Tuberculosis” SNCO, against whom bail was chosen as a preventive measure.

 

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.