The criminal investigation into the former head of the State Television and Radio Broadcasting Union has been completed: about 10 million drams of damage caused to the state has been recovered

The preliminary investigation conducted in the criminal proceedings examined by the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia established that the person who held the position of Head of the Food Safety Inspection Body of the Republic of Armenia (FSAI) from November 11, 2024 to April 30, 2025, using his official powers and the influence resulting from them, with the assistance of the warehouse manager of the same inspection body and a number of other employees, embezzled the fuel vouchers entrusted to him, purchased at the expense of state funds of the Republic of Armenia and intended for the needs of the inspection body, as well as the unjustified bonuses paid out to the above-mentioned employees in an amount incomparably higher than the amount specified.

"In particular, the preliminary investigation revealed that the inspectorate's warehouse manager received and sold a total of 15,300 liters of gasoline and 1,000 liters of diesel fuel coupons from the head of the SATM, and personally transferred the resulting amount of 7,844,000 AMD to the head of the SATM."

In addition, the latter also stole 6,096 liters of gasoline worth 2,926,080 AMD, which were registered in the balance sheet of the inspection body and entrusted to him. As a result, the aforementioned official stole 21,396 liters of gasoline and 1,000 liters of diesel fuel worth a total of 10,770,080 AMD.

In addition, the person holding the position of the head of the SATM, instead of providing bonuses to the employees of the inspection body solely due to official necessity, instructed a number of employees to cash out part of the money he had transferred to them as bonuses without justification and provide it to him through the warehouse manager. In this way, the latter, using his official powers and the influence resulting from them, embezzled the large amounts entrusted to him, a total of 3,454,000 AMD.

The former head of the State Security Service was charged with committing large and especially large-scale embezzlement by using his official powers under Article 256, Part 3, Clause 3 and Article 256, Part 2, Clauses 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia, and the warehouse manager who assisted him was charged with Article 445, Part 1, Clause 3 of Article 46-256, Part 3, Clauses 2 and 3 of Article 46-256, Part 2, Clauses 2 and 3 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. During the preliminary investigation, about 10 million AMD of the damage caused to the state was recovered.

"The preliminary investigation into the criminal case has been completed. The materials of the case, along with the indictment, have been submitted to the supervising prosecutor with a motion to approve it and send it to the court," the RA Anti-Corruption Committee said in a statement.