Preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on apparent abuses committed within implementation of «North-South Road» program is ongoing in General Department of Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee.

In the result of investigatory and procedural actions of great volume conducted jointly by the officers of the RA Investigative Committee, RA Prosecutor General's Office and National Security Service data were obtained on crime scheme for the choice of sub-contractor companies during implementation of the Program.

Particularly, it was found out that pursuant to legal procedures the choice of sub-contractor companies should have been made by the chief contractor Spanish organization with consent of Program engineer and appropriate officials of the RA Ministry of Transport and Communication. However, those procedures were actually directed by RA Ambassador on Special Assignments, RA third President Serzh Sargsyan's brother Levon Sargsyan who organized and implemented those procedures together with owners of «Polytransport» LLC Suren and Gevorg Vardanyans - sub-contractors within the program.  

It was found out that Levon Sargsyan, together with owners of «Polytransport» LLC Suren and Gevorg Vardanyans - sub-contractors within the program, due to his position and connections had real influence on the choice and involvement of sub-contractor companies which had a desire to implement construction work and provide services for 250 million USD within the Program and acting together with the above-mentioned persons, with prior agreement, out of mercenary motives used his real influence on doing actions by officials within their authorities in favor of legal entity. For this through a mediator he demanded 50 percent of the profit to be received in the result of implementation of work from the director of one of the organizations and organized receiving of the mentioned amount through money laundering.  

On the base of the obtained sufficient evidence obtained during preliminary investigation a decision was made to involve Levon Sargsyan as a defendant according to the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 190 and the Point 2 of the Part 4 of the Article 311.2 of RA Criminal Code. Search was declared against him and a motion was submitted to court to choose detention as a pretrial measure against him.

Suren and Gevorg Vardanyans were involved as a defendant according to the Part 3 of the Article 38-189, the Point 1 of the Part 3 of the Article 190, the Part 2 of the Article 38-205 and the Point 2 of the Part 4 of the Article 311.2 of RA Criminal Code. Search was declared against them and detention was chosen as a pretrial measure against them.

Preliminary investigation is ongoing. Investigatory and other procedural actions of great volume are conducted to find out all circumstances of abuses committed within implementation of the Program, the frame of those related to them and to bring them to liability.

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