The Prosecutor's Office of Gegharkunik Region summed up the outcomes of the office regarding the fight against corruption crimes and state interest protection in the region during the first half of 2020.

 

In addition, 44 criminal cases on corruption cases were initiated during the first 6 months of this year under the supervision of the prosecutors of the region. In spite of the complications caused by the coronavirus, this figure is higher with 6 or 15.8% compared with the same period last year.

 

6 cases out of the disclosed corruption cases were found in the sphere of education, 25 in local self-government, 3 in state social and medical service, 3 in healthcare, 1 in cadastral spheres, 5 in state non-commercial and 1 for corrupt criminal acts in community non-commercial organizations.

 

During the first 6 months of 2020, 65 people were prosecuted in 118 criminal cases, while in 68 criminal cases 38 people were prosecuted during the same period of the previous year. During the first half of the year, 16 people were prosecuted for criminal cases, including 7 community leaders, 1 head of medical and social service and 7 employees, and 1 director of SNCO.

 

During the mentioned period, 2 criminal cases were sent to the court with an indictment against 3 people, and 1 criminal case was completed in the court with indictment against 2 people.

 

The damage caused to the state in the result of corruption-related criminal cases was 98.512.847 AMD, out of which 7.150.147 AMD was recovered, and the necessary tools were used to recover the remaining part.

 

It is worth of mentioning that effective measures have been undertaken to recover the damage caused to the communities of the region, in the result of which 22.067.075 AMD was recovered from the previously disclosed damage of 131.220.100 AMD. During the preliminary investigation, the property belonging to the accused was seized to ensure proper confiscation.

 

In the frame of criminal cases on corruption crimes in the first half of the 2020, the duties of 3 officials of a state non-commercial organization, 1 senior specialist of the regional center of the State Service for Food Safety of Ministry of Agriculture were terminated, as well as the director of forestry was dismissed according to his application.

 

Compared with the previous year, the Prosecutor's Office of Gegharkunik region has undertaken active measures in the sphere of protection of state interests. 7 examinations were held, which include the processes of providing land plots by the community leaders violating the requirements of the legislation, and the processes of illegal constructions of the community. In the result, 14 criminal cases were initiated. 20.115.075 AMD was voluntarily recovered from the damage caused in the result of those cases.

 

In addition the court granted 2 civil claims of the Prosecutor's Office of Gegharkunik region on recovering the damage of 1.482.400 AMD caused the state in the result of crime.

 

During the first half of 2020, the Prosecutor's Office of Gegharkunik region attached importance to charge defense in court and insurance of criminal liability for the people who had committed crime. Particularly if in the first half of 2019, 49 criminal cases against 60 people were completed in court, during the same period of 2020, 61 criminal cases were completed in court against 64 people (about 24.5% more).