Within the framework of the criminal case under investigation in the RA Special Investigation Service, former Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan has been charged with a criminal offense under Article 179 (3-1) of the RA Criminal Code on suspicion of committing embezzlement in a particularly large amount of property worth AMD 1,046,400,000.

According to the factual data obtained in the criminal case, the draft of a secret government decision developed by the Ministry of Defense of the Republic of Armenia in 2010, without compliance with a number of requirements of the law, in particular without mandatory property valuation, proposed to allow the Ministry of Defense of Armenia as the body implementing the management of the package of state-owned shares of “Dzora HPP” CJSC, to approve the alienation of the company’s property in the amount of 3,600,000,000 AMD to “Dzoraget Hydro” LLC.

Subsequently, on 16 December, 2010, a secret letter was submitted on behalf of the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia Seyran Ohanyan on the draft decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, which was sent to the Government Staff on the same day by the order of Seyran Ohanyan.

The draft decision was discussed in secret by the Government of Armenia at a meeting of the Government and on the basis of a decision dated 16.12.2010 the property of “Dzora HPP” CJSC, being a state-owned company, subject to mandatory appraisal of 4,646,400,000 AMD, without proper appraisal and determination of market value, “Dzoraget Hydro” LLC was sold at value less than 1,046,400,000 AMD from the market value.

Signature vot to leave was chosen as a measure of restraint against Seyran Ohanyan.

The preliminary investigation into the criminal case is ongoing. Measures are being taken to find out the full range of people involved in the crime.

Note: The person suspected in or accused of an alleged crime is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in accordance with the Court’s verdict made effective.