The trial in the case of Vahagn Vermishyan, the former chairman of the Urban Development Committee, has already started in the Court of Appeal. The court will examine the appeal against the final judicial act of the First Instance Court collegially with the composition of 3 judges. Sergey Marabyan was appointed chairman, Mesrop Makyan and Karen Amiryan are members.
According to Iravaban.net, Vahagn Vermishyan has been charged with 7 episodes, one of which is related to taking an alleged bribe at the “Ramada” hotel. 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, and patronage in the service.
Here we are talking about USD2000.
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.
The testimony of Artur Meschyan, who worked as the Chief Architect of Yerevan from 2018 to the summer of 2020, is also important in this episode. He said that during 2019, Vahagn Vermishyan called him and asked him to speed up the process of granting a project permit for the 1.2 ha land at 39/22, 39/23, 39/24 and 39/25 Acharyan Street, in Avan District of Yerevan.
Meschyan told the court that Vahagn Vermishyan had regularly stressed about the mentioned land that it was a large investment project, it was included in the state support program, it was under the primary attention of the RA Government, and the employees of the power structures should be provided with apartments.
The witness stated that until the preliminary design was not brought into compliance with regulatory requirements, the municipality did not approve the design permit.
“The testimony of Mr. Meschyan also deserves attention here. Mr. Meschyan clearly recorded in his testimony that Vahagn Vermishyan had no particular consistency and attitude towards those cases. Moreover, he noted that the Urban Planning Committee headed by Vermishyan has never performed such high quality work before or after him. He also stated in the court that he was personally informed about the implementation of programs for public sector employees by the Urban Development Committee. The issue was personally reported to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, and the Prime Minister’s assistant regularly inquired about the progress of these projects. It was a normal situation, but the NSS hastened to give it a different quality,” the lawyer noted, assuring that there can be no question of bribery in this episode.
Kochubaev also said that different conclusions were drawn based on excerpts from the context. “It is also important to note here that the video provided by the National Security Service was edited. The recording too. We do not even have the full videos and recordings.”
The lawyer is convinced that as a result of a proper investigation, all the accused in the case should be acquitted.
Vermishyan himself also referred to this episode in the court. On 10 November, 2020, he announced in court:
“Who said I got 2,000 dollars from John? I got more from John, I also gave him when he needed, and he gave ne as well. He will give more, he is my friend. We met with John at least 2 times a day.
That day, my son called and said that he had to rent a house, and he needed 1500 euros. Naturally, I should not have to call the judge, or the prosecutor, I should have called my friend. In those days, my mother-in-law was in a difficult situation, my wife had taken my card while leaving the country, and I had no money. Naturally, I had to call John. People must have a sick fantasy to consider it a bribe. In return, I should have given something from the budget to John, so that it would be considered a bribe, I should have given a tender, allocated a plot of land, but at least they should say in the accusation what kind of bribe I gave to John. This is absurd.”
The pre-investigative body noted that John Farkhoyan, knowing and being in close relations with Vahagn Vermishyan, aimed to ensure the unhindered construction and development of the multi-apartment buildings to be built at the addresses 39/22, 39/23, 39/24 and 39/25 of Acharyan Street in Yerevan, belonging to his family and registered under the name of his son Rafael Farkhoyan, in September 2019, applied to Vahagn Vermishyan with request to help to ensure the preparation process of the documentation in a short period of time. According to the case materials, he asked Vermishyan to use his official position to facilitate the work process.
The prosecution claims that Vahagn Vermishyan had many phone conversations and discussions with high-ranking officials of the Yerevan Municipality, including Chief Architect Artur Meschyan, regarding this matter.
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.
Vahagn Vermishyan pleads not guilty to all the charges and demands an acquittal.
