On 11 September, 2015, As a result of a combination of sufficient evidence obtained by the preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated by the RA Special Investigation Service in connection with taking bribes in particularly large amount by a state official as provided in Paragraph 2 (4) of Article 311 of the RA Criminal Code, it was proved that in 2008, member of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia Aram Harutyunyan occupying the post of the Minister of Nature Protection of Armenia, at the same time as the Chairman of the Interdepartmental Committee on Issuing Special Licenses for Exploration of Mineral Resources, for the purpose of providing special licenses for exploration and exploitation of 10 ore deposits of non-ferrous metals in Syunik, Gegharkunik, Lori, and Kotayk marzes, demanded and received from S.H. in a mediated manner a $ 14 million bribe in a particularly large amount. Moreover, in the period from January to November 2008, S.H. cashed and transferred from the bank through intermediary of the same year $ 6 million from the mentioned amount. The remaining $ 8 million bribe was transferred to Harutyunyan through a bank transfer, again in a mediated manner.