Investigators revealed abuses by former governor of Kotayk region  Kovalenko Shahgeldyan

ArmInfo. Special Investigation Service, during the preliminary investigation in the framework of a criminal case revealed the facts of abuse by the former governor of  Kotayk region Kovalenko Shakhgeldyan and former head of the Hrazdan  community Aram  Danielyan in the organization of the sale of land.  These land plots are located in the communities of Hrazdan and  Tsaghkadzor, and also adjoin the communities of Akhavnadzor, Artavaz  and Arzakan.

According to the SIS statement, in particular, it turned out that by  the decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia dated March  5, 2007 the category of lands in the Kotayk region with a total area  of 106 hectares was changed. Without an auction, through fabricated  documentation, they were acquired by various officials and people  affiliated to them. Among them are the son of former Prosecutor  General Aghvan Hovsepyan - Armen Hovsepyan, businessman Samvel  Mayrapetyan who is close to the authorities, the brother of former MP  Aghvan Vardanyan - Ishkhan Vardanyan, boxer Arthur Abraham's uncle -  Nikita Abrahamyan, the wife of former head of Hrazdan Zarik  Grigoryan, wife of former MP Harutyun Karagozyan - Shamrik  Gabrielyan, then head of Armforest SNCO Martun Matevosyan, driver of  former Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan - Grigor Gevorgyan.

As a result of the illegal alienation of 106 hectares of land,  significant damage was inflicted on the state interests.

Due to the expiration of the statute of limitations, the criminal  prosecution of persons involved in the above actions will not be  carried out, and the criminal case will be terminated. Meanwhile, it  is planned through the courts to initiate the process of returning  illegally alienated land territories to the state.

To note, today the State Prosecutor's Office distributed a report  about opening a criminal case on the fact of alienation on the basis  of fabricated documents, allegedly for the needs of the state,  property at a price three times higher than the real market value.  This assessment in 2017 was carried out by SNCO <Agency for Inventory  and Assessment of State Property>, as a result of which property  worth 321.700.000 drams was alienated for allegedly state needs for  1.240.423.000. A criminal case has been instituted based on part 2 of  article 308 of the RA Criminal Code and part 1 of article 314 of the   RA Criminal Code.