Vahagn Vermishyan’s defender Alexander Kochubaev, in his closing speech, addressed the third episode of alleged bribery charges against his client.
During telephone conversations with Gagik Galstyan, Vahagn Vermishyan requested Euro-windows worth 899,600 AMD and Euro-doors worth 204,000 AMD from the latter and Vazgen Poghosyan, and later also the supply of concrete materials with an area of about 8 cubic meters, worth 190,648 AMD, which was delivered by Mushegh Avetisyan.
The presiding judge said that in this episode the amount is 899 thousand, while in the other episode (regarding forgery) it’s 820 thousand drams, and asked if these were the same doors and windows. Kochubaev responded: “Vahagn Vermishyan didn’t get the chance to pay that amount because he was arrested, I honestly don’t have an answer to that question.”
The defender notes that the appeal and objections consistently emphasize that these amounts were also received as bribes: “During the first instance trial, documents were presented reflecting the economic potential of both Horizon 95 led by Gagik Galstyan and Vazgen Poghosyan’s LLC, according to which these companies at least had no issues with orders. The second point is whether the Urban Development Committee has state orders, whether the prosecution side has correctly understood the essence of this agency, which deals exclusively with design work and is not a construction performer in the global sense.”
According to Kochubaev, according to operational intelligence data, Vermishyan calls and says concrete is needed with mandatory payment: “If on one hand these two company leaders were expecting a tender, which it doesn’t have, and I’m confident they, as representatives of giant organizations in the field, know very well that the Urban Development Committee doesn’t have tenders, and on the other hand, if actor Vahagn Vermishyan orders something, he says with mandatory payment, where is the factual evidence proving bribery here?”
The defender emphasized that the conversation between Poghosyan and Galstyan cannot in any way prove Vahagn Vermishyan’s intent to receive a bribe.
Brief summary of the alleged bribery episode in the case: The defense’s main arguments:
- Key Counter-argument:
- If Vermishyan ordered services with mandatory payment (paid), then logically there can’t be talk of bribery,
- A legal transaction cannot simultaneously be considered a bribe.
- Nature of Transactions:
- The matter concerns paid services (doors, windows, concrete),
- All orders were with clear price conditions.
- Lack of Evidence
- Conversations between Poghosyan and Galstyan cannot prove Vermishyan’s intent to receive a bribe,
- The companies didn’t need tenders, having a stable market position (this claim is supported by documents regarding Horizon LLC’s economic power presented by advocate Armen Feroyan).
- Legally Unfounded Accusation
- The RA Urban Development Committee deals only with design work and has no authority to grant tenders,
- The main element of bribery is missing – abuse of official position, namely the provision of alleged counter-service for the bribe.
Conclusion: The defense maintains that the charges are unfounded, as the main elements of bribery are absent. The defense’s key argument is logical and simple – a paid service order cannot simultaneously be considered a bribe. This, combined with the Urban Development Committee’s limited powers and lack of evidence, casts reasonable doubt on this episode of the charges.
Vahagn Vermishyan does not plead guilty to all episodes of the charges and demands acquittal.
Details in the video.
