Former official accused in $1 million state asset loss

PanARMENIAN.Net - An investigation by Armenia's Anti-Corruption Committee has revealed that a former head of the State Property Management Department, who held office from 2004 to 2011, failed to fulfill his official duties due to close ties with Samvel Mayrapetyan. On October 20, 2006, he accepted a 186.48-square-meter apartment on Abovyan Street in Yerevan as a personal gift from Mayrapetyan, breaching ethical and legal boundaries.

According to a 2007 government decision, a building (1,250 sq.m.) and garage (56 sq.m.) at 10 Abovyan Street were to be sold directly to a company owned by Mayrapetyan, conditional upon a 150 million AMD investment in renovation and restoration. When the company failed to meet these terms, the official neglected to initiate legal proceedings. He accepted a late report that failed to confirm the required investment and reported the project as completed to the state cadastral committee, leading to the unlawful release of the property from state lien.

This resulted in substantial damage to the state: property worth approximately 221.76 million AMD was removed from state assets without legal basis.

In a separate case involving a 638.2 sq.m. property at 8 Abovyan Street—also sold conditionally in 2005 to another Mayrapetyan-affiliated company—the same official again failed to pursue legal remedies despite contract breaches. As a result, property valued at over 178.46 million AMD was unlawfully excluded from the state balance sheet.

The former official has been charged under Article 308, Part 2 of Armenia’s 2003 Criminal Code on two counts of abuse of power. The investigation has concluded, and the case has been submitted to the Anti-Corruption Court.