2018 July 31

Anti-Corruption Daily

Anti-Corruption 7/31/2018: 1) IRS finds that Lfik Samo's family businesses underpaid AMD 5.2bln in taxes 2) Dozens of social security administrators from multiple cities charged with bribery and abuse of power 3) Government organization employees arrested for AMD 587mln in damag... (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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IRS audits Samvel Arakelyan's (sugar-magnate Lfik 👙 Samo ) family businesses and finds underpaid taxes worth AMD 5.2bln. More details later https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29401280.html

Criminal case is launched against 17 officials working at "Hayantar" state-run non-profit organization for illegal deforestation and abuse of power, which resulted in AMD 821mln damage to state. 11 are under arrest. https://news.am/arm/news/464250.html

9 employees of a social security department in Stepanavan are now officially charged with various embezzlement crimes, which caused AMD 587mln in damages https://news.am/arm/news/464425.html

More corruption busts in social security departments. This time in Vanadzor and Spitak. Several employees have demanded bribes from low-income residents to keep them on the recipient lists, falsified documents, illegally registered unsuspecting residents, stole millions of Drams. The fed up residents finally decided to contact the authorities with the information that led to the investigation https://www.a1plus.am/1635278.html

Even more. Social security employees in Vardenis are charged with abuse of power and requiring bribes from multiple low-income families, in exchange for keeping them in the recipient list https://news.am/arm/news/464404.html

Ministry of Transport launches and investigation against Araratyan Avtokayan car servicing company and finds that the former and current bosses have falsified document to embezzle millions. Both are charged with felony. Part of the money is recovered http://investigative.am/news/view/araratyan-avtokayan-charashahum.html

The former director of Shirak State University, who was fired by the Ministry of Education after lengthy protests by staff and students, is apparently facing two criminal charges for embezzlement and falsification of documents https://news.am/arm/news/464363.html

Ministry of Health submits the St. Gregory the Illuminator corruption scandal data to police. Criminal case is launched for large scale embezzlement, falsification of documents and theft. The administrator is related to former president Serj. Earlier, HHK member and some of the administrator’s supporters were protesting the administrator’s employment termination http://investigative.am/news/view/surb-grigor-lusavorich-bk.html

Criminal case is launched against the administrator of Gyumri N19 school for falsifying documents with the intention of receiving more public funding from the state https://www.a1plus.am/1635143.html

After Yerevan Mayr Taron Margaryan resigned, several HHK district administrators have followed the suit https://news.am/arm/news/464301.html

Ministry of Foreign Affairs invalidates diplomatic passports of former high ranking politicians https://www.aysor.am/am/news/2018/07/31/%D5%A4%D5%AB%D5%BE%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%A3%D5%AB%D5%BF%D5%A1%D5%AF%D5%A1%D5%B6-%D5%A1%D5%B6%D5%B1%D5%B6%D5%A1%D5%A3%D6%80%D5%A5%D6%80/1448543

BHK MP resigns a day after criticizing the arrest of former president Robocop Kocharyan https://www.azatutyun.am/a/29401411.html

Russian foreign minister Sergey Lavrov is concerned about the arrest of former RA president Robert Kocharyan. He hopes that it won't turn into political persecution https://news.am/arm/news/464457.html

Tourism in Armenia grew by 10% compared to H1 2017. Over 685,000 people visited in the first six months https://armenpress.am/arm/news/942257/

Bus ticket prices in Baku, Azerbaijan will rise from AMD 55 to 85 (50%). For comparison, in Yerevan, the ticket is AMD 100 and caused a big protest years earlier when the administration decided to raise it higher. The proposal was ultimately rejected. https://news.am/arm/news/464317.html

Transparency International has released a report where they raise concern about dozens of high ranking British politicians visiting Azerbaijan and accepting travel gifts from Azeri lobbyist companies, as well as being paid to speak on the television https://armenpress.am/arm/news/942286/

Azatan community will have its own solar energy generator producing 100 MWh, built by a project by Japanese embassy. 55 tons of emissions will be cut https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pXlpjTGTWW0

--- https://armenpress.am/arm/news/942332/

Here is the list of top 10 largest taxpaying companies in Armenia https://armenpress.am/arm/news/942343/

Armenian athletes win dozens of medals in Italian youth wrestling championship. Full list here https://www.aysor.am/am/news/2018/07/31/%D5%80%D5%A1%D5%B5-%D5%AE%D5%A1%D5%B6%D6%80%D5%B8%D6%80%D5%A4%D5%B6%D5%A5%D6%80/1448626

President of Italy is visiting Armenia. Two presidents participate in the opening ceremony of a new Italian-Armenia cultural heritage center, visit Tsitsernakaberd, discuss Armenia's trade agreement with EU. President A. Sargsyan receives Italy's highest medal, the Knight Grand Cross. https://news.am/arm/news/464346.html https://news.am/arm/news/464346.html --- https://armenpress.am/arm/news/942265/

Pyunik FC soccer club makes history. Beats Tobol club and advances to 3rd qualifying round in Europa League, which will begin on August 16 against a yet-to-be-determined club http://www.armtimes.com/hy/article/142526

If you ever wanted to see the Minister of Health naked, this is your chance. He is in lake Sevan, as part of an initiative to disperse the recent rumors that the lake water quality is harmful for swimming. Only the parts where the 24C temperature temporarily caused a green vegetation to grow is potentially bad for health https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JazSJxV0fnM --- https://youtu.be/nXo3kUeIBVQ?t=1640

Azerbaijan concludes the investigation of Ganja events. Dozens of more protesters are arrested. The report blames the incident on everyone else, including Armenia, except for the simple fact that people were fed up by corruption by the authorities https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mse8sTqiQTs

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Link to original report and comments: https://www.reddit.com/r/armenia/comments/93hx48/anticorruption_7312018_1_irs_finds_that_lfik/