The National Security Service (NSS) has uncovered a case of money laundering on an especially large scale involving former Yerevan mayor Gagik Beglaryan, and a criminal case has been opened.
According to the NSS, in 2009, officials, having reached a prior agreement with Gagik Beglaryan, who at the time held the office of mayor of Yerevan, and abusing their official positions, provided community-owned real estate located in the center of Yerevan to three individuals by way of donation, and in accordance with a previously reached understanding, alienated that property for negligible sums to Beglaryan’s close relatives or persons connected to him. Consequently, significant damage was caused to the legitimate interests of the community, resulting in grave consequences, namely damage of 235 million drams.
According to law enforcement, the areas belonging to the Yerevan municipality were donated only two months after Beglaryan was appointed mayor. In total, the areas of approximately 400 square meters are located on Mashtots Avenue, Charents and Vardanants streets.
The NSS will also examine the hypothesis that officials illegally took possession of other community-owned properties through the same format.
In another criminal case opened on the occasion of the embezzlement of community-owned property of especially large scale — worth more than 230 million drams, in particular a kindergarten building — Gagik Beglaryan, a former member of the Republican Party, has had the status of defendant since March of this year.
According to the NSS, the court decided to arrest Beglaryan, but he left the country and is now on the wanted list. Beglaryan was taken by surprise by today’s announcement about the new criminal case, his defense attorney Hrand Ananyan said in a conversation with Azatutyun. According to the latter, they did not know about this case.
Ananyan stated that Beglaryan is still abroad and receiving treatment, and as to when the former mayor will return, the lawyer cannot say.
