The preliminary investigation carried out under the criminal proceedings initiated by the RA Anti-Corruption Committee has established that two officials of the "Service for the Protection of the Historical Environment and Historical-Cultural Reserves-Museums" SNCO of RA Ministry of Education, Science, Culture and Sports having entered into prior agreement, and intentionally distorting the reality, committed embezzlement and official forgery in the amount of AMD 4,501,550.

In particular, throughout 2022, based on applications for the procurement of various goods and services for the needs of the SNCO, the above-mentioned SNCO periodically transferred amounts in excess of the foreseen amounts to a number of private enterprises and LLCs, which were cashed out by the latter and transferred to the above-mentioned officials.

The preliminary investigation also revealed that in some cases, some goods were not delivered at all, and the services specified in the procurement requests were not provided. However, the officials in question entered false information regarding the provision of the service or delivery of the goods into the delivery and acceptance protocols.

For the above-mentioned criminal acts, one of the two officials was charged under Article 255, Part 2, Clauses 1, 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, and the other one was charged under Article 255, Part 2, Clauses 1, 2 and 3 and Article 445, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. The ban on absence and suspension of office were applied against the latter as a combined measure of restriction.

The damage caused to the state in the amount of AMD 4,501,550 has been fully recovered during the preliminary investigation.

The preliminary investigation under the criminal proceedings has been completed. The materials of the proceedings have been sent to the Anti-Corruption Court of the Republic of Armenia with an indictment.

Notification. the person accused of a crime is considered innocent until his guilt is proven in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code by a verdict entered into legal force.