Head of Armenia’s State Oversight Service charged with corruption
19.04.2019,
10:31
On April 18 Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) brought corruption charges against Davit Sanasaryan, the head of the State Oversight Service (SOS). Sanasaryan is a political ally of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and was an active participant in last year’s “velvet revolution.” NSS said the charges were brought on the basis of a comparison of evidence obtained in the course of the investigation of a criminal case initiated on February 20 under part 2 of Article 308 (abuse of power that causes grave consequences) and part 2 of Article 325 (forgery, sale or use of documents, stamps, seals, letterheads, state numbers of vehicles) of the Criminal Code of Armenia.
YEREVAN, April 19. /ARKA/. On April 18 Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) brought corruption charges against Davit Sanasaryan, the head of the State Oversight Service (SOS). Sanasaryan is a political ally of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan and was an active participant in last year’s “velvet revolution.”
NSS said the charges were brought on the basis of a comparison of evidence obtained in the course of the investigation of a criminal case initiated on February 20 under part 2 of Article 308 (abuse of power that causes grave consequences) and part 2 of Article 325 (forgery, sale or use of documents, stamps, seals, letterheads, state numbers of vehicles) of the Criminal Code of Armenia.
It said Davit Sanasaryan will be suspended pending investigation, but will not be arrested for now. He signed a written pledge not to leave the country pending completion of the investigation.
According to NSS, in the course of the criminal case, sufficient evidence was obtained testifying that Sanasaryan, being the head of the State Oversight Service and having the authority to directly manage the agency, to appoint and dismiss employees, to give instructions to conduct studies of economic entities and demand documents and information, abused his power for the benefit of a company effectively managed by his subordinates. If convicted Sanasaryan may face up to four years.
With the consent of the prosecutor supervising the legality of the investigation, on April 18 the investigator decided to temporarily terminate Sanasaryan’s authority as head of the State Oversight Service. The decision was sent to the Prime Minister.
NSS said the investigation is underway for ensuring a complete, comprehensive and objective investigation.
Earlier, on February 28 Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) arrested two officials of the State Oversight Service and the executive of a private company on charges of illegal interference with the public procurement process.
According to NSS, the officials abused their power to illegally interfere with procurement procedures for acquiring medical equipment for the needs of the Ministry of Health and a number of medical centers to ensure that a company they patronized win the announced tender.
Some of the reports said that David Sanasaryan made a number of changes to the procurement procedure to enable Zorashen company, a supplier of furniture, to participate in a tender for supplies of hemodialysis, a treatment of kidney failure and win it. --0---
NSS said the charges were brought on the basis of a comparison of evidence obtained in the course of the investigation of a criminal case initiated on February 20 under part 2 of Article 308 (abuse of power that causes grave consequences) and part 2 of Article 325 (forgery, sale or use of documents, stamps, seals, letterheads, state numbers of vehicles) of the Criminal Code of Armenia.
It said Davit Sanasaryan will be suspended pending investigation, but will not be arrested for now. He signed a written pledge not to leave the country pending completion of the investigation.
According to NSS, in the course of the criminal case, sufficient evidence was obtained testifying that Sanasaryan, being the head of the State Oversight Service and having the authority to directly manage the agency, to appoint and dismiss employees, to give instructions to conduct studies of economic entities and demand documents and information, abused his power for the benefit of a company effectively managed by his subordinates. If convicted Sanasaryan may face up to four years.
With the consent of the prosecutor supervising the legality of the investigation, on April 18 the investigator decided to temporarily terminate Sanasaryan’s authority as head of the State Oversight Service. The decision was sent to the Prime Minister.
NSS said the investigation is underway for ensuring a complete, comprehensive and objective investigation.
Earlier, on February 28 Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) arrested two officials of the State Oversight Service and the executive of a private company on charges of illegal interference with the public procurement process.
According to NSS, the officials abused their power to illegally interfere with procurement procedures for acquiring medical equipment for the needs of the Ministry of Health and a number of medical centers to ensure that a company they patronized win the announced tender.
Some of the reports said that David Sanasaryan made a number of changes to the procurement procedure to enable Zorashen company, a supplier of furniture, to participate in a tender for supplies of hemodialysis, a treatment of kidney failure and win it. --0---
