The criminal proceedings being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia have yielded factual evidence that the person holding the position of the President of the Republic of Armenia, with prior agreement with persons close to him, using his official position, separated from state property on various fabricated grounds and acquired a number of valuable properties of public and economic importance at prices significantly lower than market prices. This was reported by the Anti-Corruption Committee.
"According to the data obtained during the preliminary investigation, in order to conceal the real ownership and criminal origin of the properties, they were registered in the names of affiliated companies, and the acquired properties were later disposed of by developing and selling them, alienating them to third parties, as well as transferring the shares of the owner companies, including by donation. Thus: The 8.3 ha plot of land adjacent to Acharyan and Tsarav Aghbyur streets was acquired for 44,657,000 AMD, where the "Play City" entertainment center was built in 2002, and two years later, on November 15, 2004, the 50 percent share of the property owner, "Fast Card" company, was transferred by donation and registered in the name of the former president's son. The 2-hectare plot of land located on the left side of the “Cascade” complex was purchased for 39,630,000 AMD. It was later exchanged for another state-owned plot of land of the same area located in a more favorable part of Yerevan, which was then alienated for 1 billion 741,931,000 AMD. The building at Paronyan 8, which is on the balance sheet of “Yeraspasark” CJSC, was also purchased for 40 million AMD, where the public areas and two parking lots of the apartment building built later with a market value of 331,800,000 AMD, with a total area of 600 square meters, were registered in the name of the former president’s son through formal purchase and sale transactions.
The “Kaputak Sevan” resort complex located in the Gegharkunik region was purchased for 83,669,000 AMD, and a 50 percent stake in the complex’s owner, “Art Build,” was registered in the name of the former president’s son in a formal sale transaction on January 15, 2010.
The 29 thousand square meter land plot at 7/1 Tsitsernakaberd Highway and the 1700 square meter building on it, belonging to the “Tennis Olympic Reserve Children and Youth Sports School” SNCO, were acquired for 12,267,000 AMD. The “Orange Fitness” premium club was built on the territory in 2008, and the 50 percent share of the property owner company was registered in 2009 through a formal transaction in the name of the company founded by the former president’s son.
The preliminary investigation also revealed that the historical and cultural monument V. In exchange for organizing the process of removing the Officer's House building at 20 Sargsyan Street and the semi-built building at 16 Nalbandyan Street from state ownership and alienating them to the "Piazza Grande" company in violation of a number of legal norms, the person holding the position of President of the Republic of Armenia was transferred, as a bribe, 56 real estate properties worth a total of 2 billion 633 million 934,000 AMD. In order to conceal their true ownership and origin, the properties were registered under formal purchase and sale contracts in the names of the former President's family members and organizations affiliated with them.
In another episode, the total market value of the land plots belonging to the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, located at 22 and 22/4 Admiral Isakov Avenue, including those intended for the construction of a scientific and production plant, amounted to 1 billion 393 million 870,000 AMD, while they were sold to a company belonging to a person close to the former president for a price four times lower. According to the investigation, in exchange for selling the land plots at a disproportionately low price and ensuring the unhindered establishment of a representative office of the Japanese company Toyota in Armenia, the person who held the position of the President of the Republic of Armenia on May 9, 2006 was transferred a 30 percent share of the Toyota Yerevan company as a bribe, which, in order to conceal its criminal origin, was registered in the name of the former president’s son under formal purchase and sale agreements.
Six people were arrested as part of the criminal proceedings, including the former president, his son, and other individuals involved in the criminal schemes.
The preliminary investigation is also examining the circumstances of the transfers of about 144 billion drams, 309 million US dollars, 77 million euros, and 18 million Russian rubles made in the name of the former president’s son between 2001 and 2019, as well as the acquisition of more than three dozen real estate properties in Armenia and abroad belonging to persons related to the proceedings and their family members. In order to prevent the possible transfer or alienation of the properties, appropriate actions have been taken to impose a freeze on them,” the statement says.
Earlier, we reported that at around 07:00 this morning, law enforcement officers broke into the house of NA deputy Levon Kocharyan, and the investigative bodies transferred Robert Kocharyan to the Anti-Corruption Committee. Later, it became known that Robert Kocharyan and his eldest son, Sedrak Kocharyan, were arrested.
In addition, early in the morning, tax authorities sealed the Yerevan office of the Toyota company. The Anti-Corruption Committee employees are currently at Orange Fitness. The Kocharyan family has shares in these companies.
As part of the criminal proceedings, investigative and procedural actions are being carried out at the Orange Fitness club and the Play City entertainment center, in the apartments of the directors.
It should be noted that Nikol Pashinyan yesterday instructed law enforcement officers to deprive the second President of the Republic of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, and the third President of the Republic of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, of their property.
