ArmInfo. On the basis of activities conducted by Armenian National Security Service aimed at finding out the circumstances of Azerbaijani apples import to Armenia on article 2015, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia is opened a case on the fact of evasion of payment of taxes, duties or other mandatory payments in large amounts.
As the Prosecutor General's Office press service reports, during the preliminary investigation information was found on illegal traffic by a number of figures from Georgia to Armenia agricultural products including Azerbaijani apples. "At the same time, as a result of the activities conducted by the Armenian NSS agents it was found that the products were imported to Armenia without passing customs control because of the bribes given to customs service personel.
Besides, during the preparation of materials, in the State Revenue Committee it was also found that a group of citizens purchased and sold in the Armenian market the apples from Azerbaijan", the report reads.
According to the materials, information was also found on the fact that since December 2016 to April 2017 the mentioned officials of the Customs Service Point "Bagratashen" were periodically bribed by the figures implementing illegal entrepreneurship for the provision of allowance to traffic fruits and vegetables through the state border of Armenia without Customs procedures. On the basis of the above mentioned, a criminal case is opened in the State Revenue Committee in part 2 of the Art. 188-th (Illegal entrepreneurship, involving the infliction of large-scale damage to persons) and Part 1 of Art. 311-th (Taking a bribe) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Considering the fact that criminal proceedings are instituted against persons carrying out special civil service in accordance with the procedure established by Art. 190-th Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, the investigation in criminal cases was transferred to the Special Investigation Service of Armenia.
To note, the State Service for Food Safety of the Ministry of Agriculture of Armenia carried out research on 3 April from trade points of Yerevan and the regions of the country. Already on April 25 it became clear that apples of Azerbaijani origin are subject to disposal, since they do not have the relevant safety certificates. "The state service does not yet know which country imported Azerbaijani-made apples to Armenia, and which company imported them," the head of the department, Ishkhan Karapetyan, told reporters on April 27 after a government meeting. According to Karapetyan, Azerbaijani apples could be smuggled into Armenia, by small importers, considering that this product is not listed in the bases. "We can assume that the supplies were carried out by private suppliers, as the Armenian legislation allows for the import of fresh fruit and vegetables up to 50 kg," he explained. On May 5, the State Service said that, based on the results of the week-long field trips, and in cooperation with other state structures, the sale of more than 500 kg of apples of Azerbaijani origin was stopped at trade outlets in Yerevan and a number of regions.