On 19 March, the Anti-Corruption Court continued the investigation of the case against Gagik Tsarukyan, the leader of “Prosperous Armenia” Party and Sedrak Arustamyan Director of “Multi Group”. Presiding Judge Aram Grigoryan.
The PAP Leader is charged under Article 154.2 of the Criminal Code: giving bribes to voters, receiving bribes, violating the ban on charity during elections or obstructing the exercise of free will of the voter.
According to Iravaban.net, at the beginning of the session, the judge announced that written evidence, documents seized during the search will be examined. Public prosecutor Davit Aghajanyan presented the alleged expenses incurred by defendant Gagik Tsarukyan in the polling stations of Gegharkunik marz.
He mentioned that in one of the polling stations of Gegharkunik region, the following information is registered: rent for the headquarters premises: 20,000 AMD, electricity: 20,000 AMD, electric stove: 10,000 AMD, table and four chairs: 50,000 AMD, gas and fuel for the head of the headquarters: 50. 000 drams, salary to the Head of Staff: 50,000 drams.
The Prosecutor’s Office claims that according to the obtained data, one activist was equalized to one vote, 50,000 drams.
Davit Aghajanyan mentioned that at the end of the document there is a note about the total expenses for February. 200 activists + pre-election expenses amounted to approximately from 25 million AMD to 27 million 800 thousand AMD.
By publishing the mentioned “price lists”, the prosecutor is trying to justify in court that Gagik Tsarukyan paid electoral bribes to the voters during the elections to the National Assembly in Gegharkunik region.
According to the order, the election data of the PAP and RPA parties in 2012 and 2017 were presented, in particular, the names of the communities of the polling stations, phone numbers, and the voting results.
For example, during the elections in Geghhovit community, 4 persons were listed as responsible. According to the number of votes, the money given to the activists was also indicated. “Total: 42 headquarters, 20,000 AMD for 1 headquarters, electricity fee 20,000 AMD, salary of the head of headquarters – 100,000 AMD.”
Davit Aghajanyan also said that there are tables where the data of activists are numbered, for example, one activist was given 2,000 drams for the transportatio of one voter, and 12 million drams was paid for 6,000 voters.
The defense side mentioned that they will make a statement only after the publication of all the documents found and seized during the search.
The next court session in this case will be held on 4 April.
Details in the video.
