Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on apparent abuses committed by the officials of “Homeland-Diaspora Center” SNCO of the RA Ministry of Diaspora is ongoing in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee. During investigation the damage caused to the state was partially restored by the SNCO director.

It was earlier informed that through the criminal case initiated on the base of the materials received from the RA State Supervisory Service data were obtained on apparent abuses committed during implementation of some grant programs.

Particularly, it was found out that during the competition announced in 2015 by “Homeland-Diaspora Center” SNCO within the grant provided by state budget the application with a price by 21.244.200 AMD lower than that of others was rejected. Instead, the agreements on service provision were signed with the other two companies causing significant damage to the state.  

Besides, apparent abuses were also found during implementation of contracts signed in the result of competition announced in the framework of the grant program “Preparation, broadcasting, acquisition and reproduction of TV programs and video clips on Armenia-Diaspora partnership” from 2015 to 2018, in the activities of separate officials of “Homeland-Diaspora Center” SNCO in 2017 in the framework of the grant program “Come Home”. As a result, money in particularly large amount has been unduly withdrawn from the state budget and squandered.  

A criminal case was initiated in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee according to the Part 1 of the Article 308, the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 179 of RA Criminal Code. An investigatory plan was worked out and necessary actions are conducted to provide the comprehensive, objective and complete investigation.

In the result of joint measures taken within the criminal case 48.500.000 AMD was transferred to deposit account of the RA State Supervisory Service by the director of “Homeland-Diaspora Center” SNCO of the RA Ministry of Diaspora as a partial restoration of the damage caused.

Preliminary investigation of the criminal case is ongoing. Investigation is conducted to find out the real volume of the damage caused, to clarify the frame of those having committed the alleged crime, to personalize the actions of each of them.

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