2018 July 18

Anti-Corruption Daily

Anti-Corruption 7/18/2018: 1) Former police chief and Ararat governor under criminal investigation in briber and blackmail case 2) March 1st chief investigator is fired 3) Nubarashen prison guard arrested for assaulting inmate 4) Khursal mayor admits stealing funds, returns the money (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.

---

PM Pashinyan fires the chief investigator of Investigative Committee of Armenia, who conducted the initial March 1st shooting investigation and concluded that the police conduct was appropriate and there was no abuse of power by the authorities http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141829

Police arrests a Nubarashen prison guard for assaulting an inmate, conspiring with other guards to hide the story from the authorities (rare news) http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141877

🔥🔥🔥 Criminal investigation is launched against the former governor of Ararat Province and the former police chief of Armenia. According to the information, MP Alik Sargsyan, who was the police chief of Armenia on 2008, has allegedly took a large bribe from the governor with the promise of appointing the governor's son to a position in the police department, but never kept the promise. Governor demanded the money back but faced a rejection, after which he blackmailed the police chief and demanded $60,000 in exchange for not publishing harmful information about him to the press. A criminal investigation is launched regarding taking bribes, giving bribes, stealing bribes https://armenpress.am/arm/news/941212.html --------- https://www.a1plus.am/1633035.html

Major General of RA army is relieved of duties by PM Pashinyan for his involvement in Artsakh politics, in which he was demanding Artsakh president's designation https://youtu.be/HV4CtX1gJKE?t=89

Minister of Education conducts school investigations in provinces, submits multiple case results to the law enforcement. No more details. link

Mayor of Khursal, Lori turns himself in. Admits stealing funds to enrich his family members. Returns AMD 1mln in stolen money https://youtu.be/HV4CtX1gJKE?t=140

---http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141822

In the past few months, 23 mayors have been subjects of criminal investigations for embezzlement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIAGzjhRrWs

Vanadzor mayor's son has also joined the army. Why is this news? Because up until now, the politicians and oligarchs have managed to get their sons off the list illegally http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141821

Colonel of the army is charged with abuse of power, embezzlement of funds, giving favorable treatment to his brother in the army https://youtu.be/5xmIz4rstOE?t=840

--- https://armenpress.am/arm/news/941183.html

A nursing home in Vardenis is being investigates for corruption and embezzlement https://news.am/arm/news/462381.html

A new criminal case in an old case involving taxi and other transport companies which falsified documents during 2016-17 to claim they are low income in order to avoid paying penalties. The total underpaid fines has reached AMD 1.3bln. Several government employees are also under investigation for conspiring https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dDtFTsq73Dw

US ambassador says the large investors are closely monitoring the events in Armenia. They expect fair playground rules for all businesses before being able to initiate large scale investments. He also hints that Lidyan mining company's fate will also have an impact on how much confident other foreign businesses will be in future while investing in Armenia. Lidyan mining company is facing resistance by Jermuk residents on environment grounds https://youtu.be/b-cMpsG591s?t=163

--- other -----

A large solar power initiative begins in Armenia. The foreign investor signs contracts with Ministry of Energy. 150 GWh/year farm will be built in Gakharquniq. In comparison, Metsamor nuclear produces 2,256 GWh, Hrazdan-Sevan Hydro 500 GWh, Mingachevir 1,400 GW/h, Enguri Dam of Georgia 4,300 GWh (now you know why Armenia and Azerbaijan run to papa-Georgia when they need extra electricity) https://youtu.be/IWPSkVxyuoA?t=7

--- http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/141846

Another young politician is appointed as a mayor by PM Pashinhyan. This time from Kapan https://www.a1plus.am/1632870.html

10,000 Syrian-Armenian refugees in Armenia will receive new assistance issued by EU-Austrian humanitarian organizations. Small business owners will receive assistance, business education, health care services, regular educational services, housing services will be given https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DBKwOMVgHrw

Russian military unit chief apologizes to local residents of Panik for creating panic (pun intended) after launching a pre-planned military training outside of the N102 base. The base chief and the Russian ambassador meet Defense Minister Tonoyan to finds ways to improve the future communication, especially when it comes to informing the local residents if the exercises are going to be loud https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8WO9RvdnwqI

EU finds Google (Android) guilty of abuse of power, monopoly, illegally prohibiting competitors from doing business, using dominant power to promote the search feature to anti-competitive levels, paying companies to prevent them from using competitor search engines. The fine is EURO 4bln, which is the fraction of Google's annual revenue https://youtu.be/5xmIz4rstOE?t=979

Russian prankers strike again! This time they call EU high ranking official and pretend to be PM Pashinyan https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVhcwZfUWsk

Shavarsh Karapetyan, the world famous Armenian-USSR swimmer who saved people from a drowning bus, visits Armenia. Informs PM Pashinyan that many Armenians with high education from Russia have expressed willingness to return and help the new government with their expertise https://armenpress.am/arm/news/941195.html

---

Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/900536/anticorruption_7182018_1_former_police_chief_and/