ArmInfo. The Special Investigation Service SIS) of Armenia completed the preliminary investigation in the criminal case of extortion and receiving bribes on an especially large scale by officials of the National Security Service (NSS) of Armenia.
In particular, according to the press service of the SIS, the evidence obtained during the investigation of the criminal case investigated by the Special Investigation Service about receiving a large bribe by the NSS and abuse of power, and revealed by the NSS, it is substantiated that the officials of the national security body, having entered into a preliminary conspiracy to receive a bribe, they demanded and received a large-scale bribe from an Indian citizen through extortion. Going beyond their authority, they also inflicted significant damage to the rights of citizens and the legitimate interests of the state.
According to the indictment, Edik Apoyan, occupying the post of head of the department of the relevant department of the National Security Service in Yerevan, having previously been aware of the problems with the law enforcement bodies of an Indian citizen Sandip Kaushik in India, entered into a preliminary conspiracy with the police officer of the same department, Gevorg Gabrielyan, on receiving a bribe large size from Kaushik. To this end, G. Gabrielyan visited the apartment of S. Kaushik on July 24, 2019, where, having gone beyond his authority, he committed illegal actions: without the availability of the appropriate proceedings and protocol, he examined things and documents that belonged to S. Kaiushik, and stated that he received from Indian law enforcement letter of his deportation from Armenia. Then, in exchange for non- deportation, he demanded the entire amount available at that time in the house, after which he personally received an amount of $ 5,000, equivalent to AMD 2 379 750.
Then G. Gabrielyan escorted S. Kaushik and two other Indian citizens who were in the apartment to the administrative building of the corresponding department of the NSS, where, in the office of the head of the department, Edik Apoyan, together with the latter, threatening to bring Kaushnik to justice, they demanded a bribe of $ 50 thousand and received from this amount 17,700 dollars, which is equivalent to 8,423,564 drams.
In particular, having received the consent of S. Kaushik, G. Gabrielyan the next day personally received an amount of $ 7,900, equivalent to AMD 3,759,926, demanding that the remaining amount of the bribe be paid. G. Gabrielyan's friend Gor Martirosyan, having learned that part of the bribe in the amount of $ 4,800, equivalent to AMD 2 286 888, is from another Indian citizen, visited him on July 31, 2019 and personally received the required amount.
For committing the above criminal acts, Edik Grigoryan and Gevorg Gabrielyan were charged under part 1, article 309 (abuse of power) and paragraph 2, part 4, article 311 (taking a bribe on an especially large scale) Criminal Code of Armenia, and Gor Martirosyan - in part 1, articles 38-309 (complicity in exceeding official powers) and paragraph 2, part 4, articles 311 (complicity in taking bribes on a large scale ).
"The preliminary investigation in the criminal case has been completed. The case with the indictment has been sent to the prosecutor conducting supervision, with a motion to be sent to the court," the investigative body said in a statement.