The first hearing in the case of confiscation of allegedly illegally acquired property of former Prosecutor General of Armenia and former Chairman of the Investigative Committee Aghvan Hovsepyan and his affiliated persons took place on December 10 at the Anti-Corruption Civil Court, presided over by Judge Rudolf Avagyan.

Note that the other defendants in the case are: Astghik Hovsepyan, Narek Hovsepyan, Misak Hovsepyan, Nora Barseghyan, Armen Hovsepyan, Marina Nushikyan, Edgar Nazaryan, Nara Shahbazyan, and “Omira” LLC.

According to Iravaban.net, during this session, Anna Harutyunyan, prosecutor of the Department for Confiscation of Illegally Acquired Property of the Prosecutor General’s Office, presented the basis and subject of the claim.

Analyzing Aghvan Hovsepyan’s criminal case and witness testimonies in the claim, the competent authority emphasized that Aghvan Hovsepyan, being a high-ranking official with powers of a government representative, contrary to the prohibition of entrepreneurial activity, both personally and through his sons, effectively participated in the management of several LLC companies conducting business activities with Arshavir Sargsyan, with whom he had close relations. Using his official position, he provided privileges and advantages to these companies, resulting in receiving property of particularly large scale.

He demanded and received 50% of “Yerevan” TV company shares worth 199 million drams as a bribe from Varsham Gharibyan, and to conceal the nature of its origin, he registered the shares under his son Armen Hovsepyan’s name through a donation agreement signed on February 14, 2011, and later, on May 6, 2014, by selling them, he legalized the criminally obtained property.

Additionally, on April 10, 2017, he fraudulently misappropriated Varsham Gharibyan’s land worth 800 million drams of particularly large scale, which he registered under his son Armen Hovsepyan’s name to conceal its true nature, thus legalizing the criminally obtained property.

According to the claim, the study data confirmed that Hovsepyan’s sons acquired immovable and movable property, participations in legal entities, which were not justified by their legal income.

“In 2008, Narek Hovsepyan acquired real estate in Ashtarak community of Aragatsotn region, he first acquired 2 real estate properties from Manvel Gharibyan, besides, in the same year he paid 3 million 286 thousand drams as cadastral value of the land plot, construction work was carried out in the acquired areas,” said Harutyunyan.

37 million 122 thousand drams were paid for the property acquisition, of which only 1 million 2 thousand drams were justified by legal income, the acquisition was 97.7% illegal.

The prosecutor also noted that in 2008, Narek Hovsepyan acquired the aforementioned real estate properties in Byurakan community from Manvel Gharibyan for 9 million drams, paid 2 million 280 thousand drams, and noteworthy is the testimony of criminal case witness Gevorg Arshakyan, who held the position of Deputy Chief of Staff of the Prosecutor General’s Office during the transaction period.

Arshavir Sargsyan also testified that he built the mansion belonging to Aghvan Hovsepyan located in the Byurakan community with money received during joint business activities.

The plaintiff noted: “In 2015, Narek Hovsepyan transferred the ownership right of this residential house to Astghik Hovsepyan, indicating 90 million drams as the alienation value, the competent authority concluded that Aghvan Hovsepyan continued to be the real beneficiary of the property.”

Aghvan Hovsepyan registered this property under the name of his son Narek Hovsepyan’s wife, Hasmik Hovsepyan, to conceal its true nature.

The real estate located in Ajapnyak administrative district was also considered 100% illegal.

65.68% of the real estate located on Azatutyun Avenue in Arabkir: in 2008, Misak Hovsepyan acquired this property for 6 million 250 thousand drams, of which 4 million 105 thousand drams of the paid amount was not justified by legal income.

“Omira” is a company belonging to Misak Hovsepyan, which was founded in 2010 in the Czech Republic.

According to the competent authority, Narek Hovsepyan acquired land plots through auctions, which were also considered illegal:

“Hrachya Avagyan, who held the position of community leader during the auction period, testified that these land areas were actually transferred to Aghvan Hovsepyan through the organization of auctions. Aghvan Hovsepyan determined the auction participants, his house guards participated in all auctions, Hrachya Avagyan noted that during that period Aghvan Hovsepyan held the position of Prosecutor General, and going against him could be fatal,” said the prosecutor.

In total, the following belonging to the Hovsepyans were considered illegal:

• 29 real estate properties,
• 9 participations in legal entities,
• and more than 2.5 billion drams.

Mariam Shahnazaryan