Top managers of Armenian nuclear power plant charged with embezzlements
14.07.2016,
16:39
Armenia’s National Security Service said today it has completed a preliminary investigation of a criminal case involving a group of top managers of the Armenian nuclear power plant charged with committing a string of abuses during procurement procedures.
YEREVAN, July 14. /ARKA/. Armenia’s National Security Service said today it has completed a preliminary investigation of a criminal case involving a group of top managers of the Armenian nuclear power plant charged with committing a string of abuses during procurement procedures.
According to a statement, issued by the National Security Service, the investigation established that the CEO of the facility Gagik Markosyan, commercial director Rubik Movsisyan, deputy CEO M. Movsisyan and Eduard Ghazaryan, head of repair and supervision department, set up an organized criminal group, and by taking advantage of their official position, committed a string of embezzlements in especially large amounts, causing significant damage to the state.
"The crime was disclosed as a result of operative investigation activities implemented by the National Security Service and the damage caused to the state in the amount of 783.6 million drams was fully recovered. The criminal case with the indictment was sent to the court," the statement said.
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. It was built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988. One of its two VVER 440-V230 light-water reactors was reactivated in 1995. Armenian authorities said they will build a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging facility.
The new plant is supposed to operate at twice the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility. The plant currently generates some 35 percent of Armenia's electricity.
In March 2014, Armenian government decided to extend the plant’s service life because of delay in building a new unit. The service life extension has become possible thanks to Russia’s financial resources. The country will provide $270 million to Armenia as loan and $30 million in grants. -0-
According to a statement, issued by the National Security Service, the investigation established that the CEO of the facility Gagik Markosyan, commercial director Rubik Movsisyan, deputy CEO M. Movsisyan and Eduard Ghazaryan, head of repair and supervision department, set up an organized criminal group, and by taking advantage of their official position, committed a string of embezzlements in especially large amounts, causing significant damage to the state.
"The crime was disclosed as a result of operative investigation activities implemented by the National Security Service and the damage caused to the state in the amount of 783.6 million drams was fully recovered. The criminal case with the indictment was sent to the court," the statement said.
The Armenian Nuclear Power Plant is located some 30 kilometers west of Yerevan. It was built in the 1970s but was closed following a devastating earthquake in 1988. One of its two VVER 440-V230 light-water reactors was reactivated in 1995. Armenian authorities said they will build a new nuclear power plant to replace the aging facility.
The new plant is supposed to operate at twice the capacity of the Soviet-constructed facility. The plant currently generates some 35 percent of Armenia's electricity.
In March 2014, Armenian government decided to extend the plant’s service life because of delay in building a new unit. The service life extension has become possible thanks to Russia’s financial resources. The country will provide $270 million to Armenia as loan and $30 million in grants. -0-
