Taking into account the great resonance and numerous inquiries addressed to the body conducting the proceedings by the media regarding the criminal proceeding initiated at the RA Anti-Corruption Committee on cases of obstructing the implementation of the powers of participants in the proceedings and giving bribes to participants in the proceedings related to their powers, the RA Anti-Corruption Committee informs that a combination of sufficient evidence has been obtained in the mentioned criminal proceeding to the effect that an advocate, a member of the RA Chamber of Advocates, was involved as the defense attorney for an accused who committed a murder in a criminal case being examined in one of the courts of general jurisdiction of the first instance regarding a murder case.
During the trial, the advocate, having reached a preliminary agreement with the brother of the accused, in the law office operated by him, through other illegal means - namely, by persuasion, as well as by voicing threats of murder by the brother of the person who committed the murder - compelled a participant in the proceedings - an eyewitness to the murder - to change the testimony given in the course of the preliminary investigation and at court, and at the next scheduled court hearing to give false testimony that would contribute to the accused evading responsibility. In addition, the witness was given a bribe of an amount not yet clarified by the investigation, after which the witness who received the bribe gave obviously false testimony at the court hearing.
Based on the facts testifying to the commission of the crime obtained during the preliminary investigation, public criminal prosecutions have been initiated against three persons, including the advocate, under the corresponding articles of the RA Criminal Code.
10.03
Persons who held the positions of Rector and Vice-Rector of the Armenian State Pedagogical University are accused of receiving bribes in particularly large amounts; the criminal proceeding against 10 persons has been sent to court
The criminal proceeding, initiated as a result of operative-search measures carried out by the RA Anti-Corruption Committee, established that officials of the Armenian State Pedagogical University after Khachatur Abovyan, using their official powers, as part of a group and by preliminary agreement, received bribes in particularly large amounts.
In particular, the person who held the position of Vice-Rector of the university, with the knowledge of the Rector, proposed to the head of the transport department and the director of "Aghavnadzor" training base operating under the university to give bribes to him and the Rector in exchange for disposing of sums received from the reception of guests and the organization of their rest, which were entered into the balance of the foundation, in violation of the procedure established by the charter of the "Kh. Abovyan Armenian State Pedagogical University" Foundation and the base.
The aforementioned officials also demanded and received bribes for disposing of rental fees subject to entry into the foundation's balance, illegally managing an LLC created by the foundation and disposing of sums received as a result of its activities, appointing university employees to other positions by joint-tenancy (simultaneous holding), and performing a number of other criminal actions.
As a result of the mentioned actions, the university officials received a total of around AMD 18 million in particularly large amounts as bribes. In addition, during the preliminary investigation, cases of embezzlement of an amount of around AMD 12 million were discovered as a result of the Rector and Vice-Rector abusing their authoritative and official powers. Consequently, around AMD 30 million was not entered into the university's balance.
The Rector of the university has been charged under Article 441, Part 2, Clause 4 (5 episodes); Article 435, Part 2, Clauses 1, 2, and 3 (5 episodes); and Article 435, Part 2, Clause 1 of the RA Criminal Code.
The Vice-Rector has been charged under Article 441, Part 2, Clause 4 (5 episodes); Article 435, Part 2, Clauses 1, 2, and 3 (5 episodes); Article 441, Part 2, Clause 2; Article 435, Part 3, Clause 3; Article 435, Part 2, Clause 1; and 2 counts under Article 445, Part 2 of the RA Criminal Code. Charges have been brought against 8 more employees of the university for giving bribes, aiding in the receipt of bribes, and committing embezzlement in large amounts.
The preliminary investigation under the criminal proceeding has been completed, and the materials of the proceeding have been sent to the RA Anti-Corruption Court 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.
