The RA National Security Service being consistent in the strict execution of the functions assigned to it by law in the fight against crime, as a result of large-scale investigative and procedural actions, as well as complex operative-search activities, established that under the customs procedure “release for internal consumption” from the United Arab Emirates in the name of a company operating in RA, a processed diamond with an invoice value of 148.535 USD weighing 1776.84 carats, the customs value of which amounted to 72.014.112 AMD, was imported and declared into the Republic of Armenia, while in preparation materials, it was established that the market value of diamonds imported by the company to RA according to the above-mentioned declaration and examined by the expert as of September 18, 2020, exceeds 420.000.000 AMD, as a result of which the state missed an amount that reached particularly large amounts when paying customs duties.

During the preliminary investigation of the criminal case initiated on September 24, 2020 in the Department of Investigative-Search Intelligence of the RA SRC and transferred to the Investigation Department of the RA NSS, it was established that the head of the Department of Licensing and Permits of the RA Ministry of Economy A.N., being an official, authorized to issue an act of state control after an inspection in the case of the import of goods by business entities for committing a deliberately illegal action, namely: concealing the true value of diamond stones imported by an economic entity, paying a small customs duty during customs clearance, not conducting an appropriate inspection for the purpose of issuing an act state control and the provision of the said act under these conditions, on September 6, 2020, he personally received a large bribe from the owners of the company, after which, for mercenary motives, he instructed the legal consultant of the RA Minister of Economy V.S. to draw up and transfer to the company representatives an official document granting the right, which was a fake state control act on compliance with the declaration on the import of diamond stones, which was carried out by the latter.

Under pressure from irrefutable evidence and facts obtained in the framework of a criminal case, the legal adviser to the RA Minister of Economy gave confessionary statements.

On January 26, 2021, on suspicion of receiving a large bribe, A.N., the head of the Department of Licensing and Permits of the Ministry of Economy of RA, was brought to the Investigation Department of the RA NSS and was detected.

On the same day, on suspicion of giving a bribe, entering by an official knowingly false information into official documents for mercenary motives or for other personal reasons or based on group interests, the actual owners of the economic entity operating in RA, as well as about a dozen people suspected of or related to the alleged crime, were also brought to the Investigation Department,

The necessary investigative and other procedural actions are being taken to clarify the real amount of damage caused to the state as a result of the crimes committed, to establish the full range of persons involved in the corruption mechanism, and to provide an appropriate criminal legal assessment of their actions.

The National Security Service urges economic entities to carry out their activities exclusively within the legal framework and to refrain from acts of corruption.

Note: the suspect or accused of an alleged crime is considered innocent as long as his guilt is not proven in a manner prescribed by the Code of Criminal Procedure of RA - by the court decision entered into legal force.