Defense ministry’s official to stand trial on charges of bribery and theft during wartime

YEREVAN, November 16. /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) announced today the completion of the preliminary investigation of a criminal case that involves a high-ranking official of the Ministry of Defense, who is accused of committing a string of crimes in collusion with other persons during last autumn 44-day war in the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict zone.
According to the NSS, the official, identified as G.D, by abusing his powers and official position had demanded and received about 8 million dram bribes from a number of citizens in return for not sending conscripts to the front line.
He also helped a Ministry of Defense employee to get the job of his choice. As a result of these actions, the activities of military units, the organization of conscription during martial law and the replenishment of units were disrupted.
Evidence was obtained also that the officer who has the rank of Colonel, while in the town of Goris in October-November 2020, stole a UAZ vehicle that belonged to Gazprom Armenia CJSC. The vehicle cost is 3,680,000 drams.
According to NSS, twenty-two people are involved as defendants in the case. -0-