Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on abusing official position by former officials of community of Meghri was completed in Syunik Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee. Charge was pressed against the former head and deputy head of the community.

On July 19, 2018 a criminal case was initiated in the Investigative Department of the RA National Security Service according to the Part 1 of the Article 308 of RA Criminal Code preliminary investigation of which was conducted in Syunik Regional Investigative Department of the RA Investigative Committee.

Through preliminary investigation factual data were obtained on the allegation that the community head had held the position from November, 2012 to September, 2016. Being an official, with prior agreement with the deputy head he willfully did activities which were obviously out of the frame of his authorities envisaged by RA Law “On Local Self Government” and other regulations which caused significant damage to citizens’ rights, as well as legal interests of the community.

Pursuant to data obtained during pretrial proceeding, without studying the complete data of young families in need of housing, without organizing a procedure of apartment distribution by lottery and commission’s conclusion, neglecting the imperative requirements of Government’s decisions the head and deputy head of the community of “Meghri” – the director of “Meghri” foundation demanded that 8 families in need of housing should pay 26.000-36.000 AMD for 1 square meter to the account of “Meghri” foundation for being involved in the list of beneficiaries receiving houses, as well as they provided 14 persons who were not in need of housing or were not young and married with apartments.  

Besides, they sold by auction the garages with surface of 31,3 s/m, 32,8 s/m, 35,5 s/m, 34,1 s/m, 28,8 s/m և 31,3 s/m and the lots attached to them to 6 people for 385.000 AMD, 330.000 AMD, 275.000 AMD, 330.000 AMD, 247.500 AMD և 385.000 AMD, accordingly.  

As a result, the families affected by the fire refused to pay and get the apartments which they should get for free and 8 families in need of housing paid 17 556 710 AMD in total to get their apartments which they should get for free, also 14 families that had not this right received apartments.

On the base of the obtained evidence charge was pressed against the former head and former deputy head of the community of Meghri according to the Part 1 of the Article 309 of RA Criminal Code. A decision was made to seize their property.

The criminal case with the bill of indictment was sent to prosecutor supervising the legality of preliminary investigation.

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