In the result of investigatory actions of great volume conducted within the criminal case investigated in the proceeding of General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee cases of squandering in particularly large amount were disclosed at «Martik» foundation; charge was pressed against the chairman of the board of trustees Artur Aghabekyan.

The criminal case on apparent abuses at «Martik» foundation was initiated in July, 2018 on the base of the application of the member of «Yelk» faction of Yerevan Council of Elders Anahit Bakhshyan. An investigatory plan was worked out and necessary investigatory actions were conducted to provide the comprehensive, complete and objective investigation.

As a result, it was found out that «Martik» foundation was established in 2002 the statutory goals of which were to assist the education and training of officer staff of Armed Forces of the Republic of Armenia, logistics enrichment of that sphere, development of military science and the tasks were the development and implementation of organizational, educational, charity, campaign and other projects, financial assistance for scientist militaries, lecturers and students' participation in trainings, conferences held abroad and other projects, scholarships creation and payment of talented students.

Pursuant to obtained actual data, in several cases the resources of the foundation were spent against the goals and tasks envisaged by the statute. Particularly, money in particularly large amount was spent to organize hospitality for several persons in restaurants and hotels, to obtain petrol of premium type for transport means not related to the foundation, to give valuable gifts to several persons.

The apparent abuses were recorded from 2012 to 2016 in the result of which, pursuant to initial assessment, 54.083.860 AMD was swindled from the foundation resources by squandering. Through the criminal case it was found out that in the mentioned period the chairman of the board of trustees was Artur Aghabekyan who had the authority to manage directly the activity of the foundation staff and actually controlled the foundation property alone. Sufficient evidence were also obtained that a part of the foundation resources was spent for organization of hospitality in a resort restaurant 40 % shares of which belonged to Artur Aghabekyan.

On the base of the evidence obtained in the pretrial proceeding on August 29 charge was pressed against Artur Aghabekyan according to the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 179 of RA Criminal Code. Signature not to leave was chosen as a pretrial measure against him.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing.

Note; Everyone charged with alleged crime offence shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty according to law.