Vahagn Vermishyan, the former Chairman of Urban Planning Committee, was charged with 7 episodes. These include giving and taking bribes, fraud, illegal entrepreneurship and abuse of official authority.
Taking a bribe
The episode is also related to Vermishyan’s friend, John Farkhoyan, who is one of the defendants in the case.
Farkhoyan is accused of bribing an official, using the official position for his own benefit to perform or contribute to the non-performance of any action, patronage in the service.
Here we are talking about 2000 USD.
Completely denying the arguments of the preliminary investigation body, the defense presents a different reality.
“During the investigation of the case, we have undeniable evidence that Vermishyan asked Farkhoyan for this 2,000 dollars to send his son to Slovenia, because there was a problem with the bank card at that time, and it was not possible to make the transfer. He requested, took and sent that money. Moreover, there is a receipt certifying the transfer in the case file. The same amount of money, i.e. 2000 US dollars, was sent to Slovenia in the name of Vermishyan’s son. Both Vermishyan and Farkhoyan denied the accusation. This was also denied by that payment receipt,” the lawyer notes.
Here we are talking about USD 2000.
Completely denying the arguments of the preliminary investigation body, the defense presents a different reality.
In the interview with Iravaban.net, Vahagn Vermishyan’s lawyer Alexander Kochubaev described it as the “most ridiculous episode” of the case.
“During the investigation of the case, we have undeniable evidence that Vermishyan asked Farkhoyan for this 2,000 dollars to send his son to Slovenia, because at that time there was a problem with the bank card, and it was not possible to make the transfer. He asked for, took and sent that money. Moreover, there is a receipt certifying the transfer in the case file. The same amount of money, i.e. 2000 USD, was sent to Slovenia in the name of Vermishyan’s son. Both Vermishyan and Farkhoyan denied the accusation. This was also denied by that payment receipt,” the lawyer notes.
Medal episode
This part of the indictment refers to the medals of architect Jim Torosyan. Gagik Galstyan and Vazgen Poghosyan were charged with this as well. Vermishyan learned about it and further,in August 2019, during the gathering organized on the occasion of Builders’ Day, he informed Gagik Galstyan that the commemorative medals of the famous architect Jim Torosyan were for sale, and he was going to buy them and hand them over to the National Museum-Institute of Architecture named after Alexander Tamanyan.
Gagik Galstyan replied that he and other builders will also participate in their acquisition. The commemorative medals were purchased, for which Vermishyan personally paid 8000 USD. He handed over the medals to the museum, asking the director to state that they were given by an anonymous donor.
In October 2019, Gagik Galstyan came to his office and, being informed about the acquisition of commemorative medals, gave 5,000 USD, saying that Vermishyan should not pay this cost alone. The Head of the Committee did not want to take the money because he was financially secure, but in order not to offend Gagik Galstyan, he took it and promised to donate the money to the museum fund. The “desire to participate” in the purchase of the medals mentioned by the prosecution was described as a bribe, in order to patronize the service of an official in favor of Vazgen Poghosyan and Gagik Galstyan, as well as to perform any action within the scope of his powers and to facilitate an action in their favor using the official position.
The prosecution claims that the money was given to present Vazgen Poghosyan to the title of Honored Builder.
Vermishyan said that he bought the awards and medals of academician Jim Torosyan with the money Gagik Galstyan and Vazgen Poghosyan had given, and for which he paid 8000 USD and gave them to the architecture museum as a donation, without registering the name of the donor.
Ihe interview with Iravaban.net, n the former Mayor of Stepanavan, Aram Babajanyan, said that Vermishyan learned about the sale of Jim Torosyan’s heritage while passing through the Vernissage. He urged not to sell the heritage, stating that he would buy them.
“Learning that Vermishyan bought everything and donated it to the museum, the friends say that Torosyan is one of their seniors, has a great contribution to the field and they want to participate. The whole story was turned and presented as process of paying bribes,” Babajanyan said.
Fraud episode
According to the indictment, in December 2020, Vahagn Vermishyan received in his office, his relative Ashot Muradyan and Zohrab Hovhannisyan, who initiated the construction of an apartment building on Azatutyan Avenue.
According to the prosecution, after learning during the conversation that Zohrab Hovhannisyan needed a sketch project in order to receive an architectural design task, he advised him to use the services of Gagik Panosyan, who is in close relations with him and who carries out design work.
“…He fraudulently assured that it was necessary to pay 5,000 USD equivalent to 2,387,150 AMD for the service, as a result of
which Zohrab Hovhannisyan, being in a state of delusion, conditioned by Vahagn Vermishyan’s person, trusting the latter, gave his consent and at Vahagn Vermishyan’s request he personally paid at the latter’s office a part of the requested 5,000 USD, 2,500 USD equivalent to 1,193,575 AMD as an advance payment. At the same time demanded Zohrab Hovhannisyan to transfer the remaining part of the amount to Gagik Panosyan in January 2020 after receiving the sketch.
It is noted that as a result, Vahagn Vermishyan received 2,500 USD equivalent to 1,193,575 AMD from Zohrab Hovhannisyan, which he embezzled fraudulently.
Vahagn Vermishyan’s lawyer, Alexander Kochubaev, told Iravaban.net that there was no crime of the fraud in the case. Moreover, judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan stopped Zohrab Hovhannisyan’s participation in the trial as a victim during the trial of the case in the first instance court. “Now, if we have no abuse of trust or delusion, Zohrab Hovhannisyan does not consider himself deceived or misled, then how is it that the court was able to assess the happening as a fraud?”
According to the lawyer, accusing Vahagn Vermishyan of this crime, which is missing, had the purpose of discrediting him, which did not work. “In this case, Zohrab Hovhannisyan turned to Vermishyan with a certain problem related to construction. Vermishyan contacted a specialist in the relevant field, the money was transferred, and the work was done. This is the whole reality.”
Regarding engaging in entrepreneurial activity
According to the indictment, in the period between September 2019 and 5 February, 2020, he abused his official authority on two occasions, using his official position against the interests of the service.
It is noted that as a result of having a more effective involvement in the management activity of the “Moss Group” LLC, which is engaged in entrepreneurial activity and performs architectural and design works, and which was founded on 16 ay 2019, by Natalya Chernikova, who is in close relations with Vermishyan, having an intention to get material benefits, signed an employment contract for a certain period with the Director of “Moss Group” LLC, according to which the latter was hired at the RA Urban Planning Committee as an Advisor to the Head of the Department of International Cooperation and Investment Programs with a salary of 314 thousand 165 drams per month..
According to the Prosecution, Vermishyan abused his official authority, caused property damage of around 1.5 million drams to the state, as well as defamed the authority of the state body, disrupted the normal functioning of the Urban Planning Committee.
He had no connection with “Moss Group” LLC, even more with its management, he had not provided any patronage or advantage, had not advised any developer to contact Natalya Chernikova to carry out design work.
Vermishyan’s attorney, Alexander Kochubaev, also claims that his client did not engage in entrepreneurial
activities. “He could have done it, but he didn’t.”
According to the attorney, architectural activity is placed in the context of intellectual creative work.
“The description in the indictment fully falls under notion of intellectual creative work, so it is illegal to call to criminal responsibility for it. Our main message is that Vahagn Vermishyan could have engaged in such activities, but he did not. Secondly, why was the law applied in a discriminatory manner,” the lawyer says.
In addition, the Prosecution claims that Vermishyan actually managed “Moss Group” LLC. However, it is worth noting the fact that no demand for confiscation of property of illicit origin was submitted regarding this Company.
So, no sessions have been scheduled in Vermishyan’s criminal case for a long time. The next session is scheduled for 29 February.
It should be noted that the Court of First Instance found Vahagn Vermishyan guilty of this episode as well and sentenced him to a total of 8 years in prison.
Despite the accusations, the lawyers claim that Vahagn Vermishyan is innocent and they expect an acquittal decision on all episodes from the Anti-Corruption Court of Appeal.
