Seven Economy Ministry officials detained in corruption cases - Armenian Investigative Committee

YEREVAN, February 1 /ARKA/. Armenia's Investigative Committee (IC) said on Wednesday that 7 officials of the Ministry of Economy have been detained in two criminal corruption cases it has initiated.

A ministry spokesperson confirmed that Deputy Minister Ani Ispirayn, 32, was brought in for questioning from her office on the morning of January 31, a day after she was fired by Prime Minister Pashinyan.

According to the IC press service, six Economy Ministry officials created conditions for illegally removing a private entity from an announced tender for the creation of a bank for public investment projects .so that it would be won by another bidder who offered 392 million drams (about $1 million), three times the price offered by the disqualified competitor.

The Investigative Committee also stated that another ministry official detained in another criminal case unreasonably facilitated the transfer of 238 million drams to the accounts of farmers involved in the creation of intensive orchards, who did not provide relevant documents and embezzled the funds. According to the IC, the detained official was in close relations with these persons.

Economy Minister Vahan Kerobyan said on Wednesday he was not aware of the reasons for the search of his ministry by law enforcement officials.

"Investigative agencies usually search state institutions in corruption cases," Kerobyan told reporters. "We attach great importance to the fight against corruption, but we also respect the presumption of people's innocence."-0-