2018 July 13

Anti-Corruption Daily

Anti-corruption 7/13/2018: 1) Police station chief invstg. for embezzlement and abuse of power 2) Drug trafficking in crisis while Serj's nephew and former police chief's bodyguard on the run 3) Gas stations belonging to high ranking MPs underpaid taxes 4) IRS employee being invstg.. (MORE BELOW)
by ar_david_hh

Disclaimer: All the accused are innocent until proven guilty by the court of law, even if they may sound as being guilty. Currency in Armenian Drams ֏ unless specified otherwise.

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A police chief in ՈԶ N station is under investigation for abuse of power and embezzlement https://youtu.be/gTsqaj5lB1I?t=531

--- http://investigative.am/news/view/vostikanutyan-zorqer-pargevavcharneri-yuracum.html

A magazine sources suggest that the illegal drug industry in Armenia is in crisis. There is information that Serj's nephew (the one who is currently wanted) and the former police chief's bodyguard were in charge of trafficking https://factor.am/67710.html

Another magazine brakes a story about a possible NSS investigation of Armenian ambassador to Czech Republic, who allegedly helped corrupt politicians to purchase real estate in European countries https://factor.am/67698.html

Former Yerevan mayor Taron Margaryan's municipality colleagues suggest that he wanted to resign on April, when Serj resigned, but he was asked not to, because HHK wanted him to stay in power to help them break the 10% vote barrier they would need for future elections. Insider also says Taron's resignation was somewhat related to NSS revealing a corruption in one of the foundations in municipality. Another HHK member says they won't propose a candidate for new mayor http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141399

Job applications (especially by young applicants) for IRS has significantly increased. A generational change is taking place at the lower levels. New IRS chief won't fire the existing workers, but vows to reform the agency to make it more efficient https://youtu.be/2Yl19exRfww?t=49

IRS chief: More gas stations have been caught underpaying total of 940mln in taxes, bringing the total number to 8 firms. Some of the firms belonged to MP Mher Sedrakyan (HHK), Gagik Tsarukyan (BHK), Vardan Harutyunyan (former IRS chief). Criminal case is launched against the firms. Per internationally accepted practice, in the event of funds being recovered and fines being paid, the case will be dropped against the LLC and individuals won't be imprisoned.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rCGpUqQbMUE --- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7SDS91OjaE

President of Armenian Cultural Foundation claims that the previous authorities plundered their resources. Claims to have been silenced. He is more optimistic now https://youtu.be/ueVDOuPYCSU?t=384

HHK MP Nahapet Gevorgyan leaves the party https://news.am/eng/news/461636.html

IRS chief will raise salaries and implement new measures to reduce possible corruption and bribe-acceptance by rank and file employees https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VnpdKd6YvYI

IRS chief: Norfolk will be dissolved within a month. A new customs organization will be formed, where the government will have shares and more monitoring role in the process https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nBa-olGAtVo

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FWp97vosnaY

IRS chief: Some car importers tried to dodge taxes by showing falsified invoices showing the products at lower than market rate prices. For example, a car was imported from Georgia where the owner reported it as being worth $87. IRS and customs are working on educating the importers on how to fill out proper forms. From now on, the agency will remove the previous importing barriers and instead demand the importer to show an accurate invoice https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A3xiyWCUTCQ

IRS chief: An employee is under administrative investigation for previous actions https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bZwJqWbfAoU

A more comprehensive list of businesses and property owned by Sargsyan family https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UmwtTJrnTY0

Armenia submits a proposal to Eurasian Economic Union to close loopholes that allow food manufacturers to dupe unsuspecting buyers into purchasing "wrong" products that are of low quality or contain additives. The proposal is accepted. Beginning January 1st, consumers across 5 countries will have better protections https://youtu.be/gTsqaj5lB1I?t=791

Few days after local residents complained to media about the pedestrian safety hazards, works have begun to make the crosswalks safer and create new ones https://youtu.be/CztTY9i7b74?t=780

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Health Minister: 15,000 doctors will receive a 15% pay raise https://youtu.be/-D6cvsyGjzQ?t=61

Tourism in Artsakh increases by 102% https://youtu.be/CztTY9i7b74?t=155

(subs)

Armenia sends 100 tons of aid to war torn Syrian towns where people are returning after the war https://youtu.be/CztTY9i7b74?t=373

Two more Sasna Tsrer members released after paying bond https://youtu.be/gTsqaj5lB1I?t=517

Debates around increasing female quotas in politics. Yelq and HHK are in favor of it, while Dashnak suggests increasing the current 1/4th mandatory quota isn't going to solve a problem until number of women who are interested in politics increases. Currently, over 40% of political party leaders and 11% of Parliament MPs are female.

https://youtu.be/gTsqaj5lB1I?t=983

--- https://news.am/eng/news/415834.html ---- https://www.womenpoliticalleaders.org/parliament/armenia-national-assembly/

All the accused are presumed innocent until proven guilty in the court of law.

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/8yojtv/anticorruption_7132018_1_police_station_chief/