Monday, May 4 2020 20:49

ArmInfo. The National Security Service of Armenia presented new details on the progress of the investigation of the criminal case on corruption by senior officials  of the State Revenue Committee, which is held by the former head of  the State Duma, former Finance Minister Gagik Khachatryan.

So, according to the NSS RA report received by ArmInfo, during  investigative measures in the framework of the above case, they were  received factual evidence that the sons of a person holding the post  of Minister of Finance at the time, by prior conspiracy with  relatives, based on the position held by their father, founded a  trade organization to deliver goods to the tax and customs  authorities of the Republic of Armenia and provide information  technology services .

At the same time, the department noted that the father himself out of  personal interests, using his post to the detriment of official  interests, instructed the officials of the State Duma, and then the  Ministry of Finance to cooperate with employees of this organization  and, if possible, facilitate them: ensure proper participation in  tenders in the field of information technologies, provide the  necessary information for this, remove obstacles and apply more  favorable procurement procedures.

NSS RA stated that, taking advantage of their privileged position,  the employees of the above trade organization concluded many  agreements between 2008 and 2020 for the supply of goods and  services, due to which the state funds were transferred on a  particularly large scale.

"In addition, the above state official responsible for obtaining  state revenues, implementing the government's policy in the field of  public finance management, realizing the need to modernize customs  information systems and acquire new information systems using his  official position, with the intention of embezzling property on a  particularly large scale, with the participation of other persons  depending on him by type of service, concluded 19 agreements on the  acquisition of software modules with the above com As a result,  despite the fact that under the agreement the above works were  performed for 2,777,410,417 drams, 4,283,580,000 drams were  transferred from the state accounts of the company, as a result of  which 1,506,169,583 drams were stolen due to the connivance of the  above official and with the help of his sons, "the NSS of Armenia  noted.

The ministry also informed that, in order to conceal the criminal  nature of the funds acquired, the above funds were cashed through  dummies, but in fact they were managed by the sons of the above  official and their relative, including through a third party they  were deposited into the accounts of the telecommunications company  Ucom and used in an entrepreneurial company activities.  The NSS once  again recalled the involvement of the sons of the aforementioned  official in receiving a bribe from the CEO of a large concern ($  22,401,000), as ArmInfo previously reported.  The NSS recalled that  when summing up the evidence received, the head of the business  entity was charged, the court elected arrest.

The ministry noted that after that, on April 28, the decision was  made by the organization conducting the proceedings to amend the  charges against the son, the official who is in the territory of the  Republic of Armenia and is involved in the case as the accused, to  supplement them and re-present them.  The NSS also emphasized that  the aforementioned person, duly informed of the need to appear at the  bodies carrying out the proceedings, violated the requirements for  the measure of restraint (recognizance not to leave), disappeared  from the investigation. He is wanted, and arrested in absentia.  The  department also informed that all necessary measures are being taken  to find out his whereabouts, as well as to identify the entire chain  of the criminal scheme.

Note that this is the son of the former head of the State Revenue  Committee and the Ministry of Finance Gagik Khachatryan - Gurgen  Khachatryan, who is a co-founder of the Galax group of companies and  chairman of the board of directors of a major telecommunications  company Ucom, and accused of aiding in transferring a bribe. R  Earlier, it was reported that numerous searches were conducted by the  National Security Service in the offices and apartments of the  Khachatryan family, as well as in the office of the newly appointed  director of Ucom, Ara Khachatryan.

Last week, Ucom owners under investigation accused the Armenian  authorities of pressure to transfer assets. In response, the press  secretary of the Prime Minister of Armenia, Mane Gevorgyan, stated  that, according to the data of the Government of Armenia, the former  Chairman of the State Duma of the Republic of Armenia Gagik  Khachatryan and his sons led the corrupt mafia structure operating in  Armenia for many years, as a result of which they accumulated illegal  funds in several hundred million dollars.  She also added that the  government has information that the ex-president of the RA Serzh  Sargsyan, Mikael Minasyan, also has a share of corruption in UCOM,  and he is the de facto owner of some of the shares of Khachatryanov.  It was also noted that the sale of shares of Khachatryans would be  possible only if the entire amount received for this sale would be  transferred to the state budget of Armenia.  We add that the final  beneficiary of Ucom is the family of the former super-minister -  Minister of Finance and QGD Gagik Khachatryan. Today, both Gagik  Khachatryan himself and his sons and nephew (owners of Galaxy) are  accused of embezzlement on an especially large scale and abuse of  office. Gagik Khachatryan was charged under part 2 of article 308 of  the RA Criminal Code (misappropriation or embezzlement of funds on an  especially large scale) and part 2 of article 308 of the RA Criminal  Code (abuse of official authority entailing grave consequences  through negligence). Being a government official all his life,  Khachatryan became one of the richest people in the country. Ucom  enjoyed enormous informal privileges before the Velvet Revolution  and, for all its years, despite operating profit, worked with huge  balance sheet losses and, as a result, did not pay income taxes.