As  a result of operative-search activities carried out in the direction of fight against crime, officers of Yerevan City Department of the RA National Security Service established that the person holding the position of the head of the cemetery of “Special Services for the Population” Community Non-Profit Organization, acting under the direct subordination of the Municipality of Yerevan, with the assistance of the warden of the same cemetery, in exchange for providing a landscaped area at the cemetery, as well as for digging the gravel pit in the conditions of the already paid cost of the relevant services established by the decisions of the Mayor of Yerevan, from the relatives of the buried persons, demanded and received bribe in an especially large amount - 1.420.000 AMD

In addition, the head of the same cemetery, ex-officio being authorized to carry out a number of paid services for the improvement of cemetery graves at the same cemetery, organized the works on the improvement of cemetery graves on a private basis, for which the total amount of 780.000 AMD received from the relatives of the persons buried in the cemetery did not transfer to the account of the community NPO, the relevant documents on construction work were not drawn up, and by these actions caused significant damage to the rights and legitimate interests of the community NPO “Special Services for the Population” of the Yerevan Municipality.

Necessary criminal-procedural actions and operative-search measures are being taken in the direction of establishing the full scope of persons involved in the corruption scheme, detecting other similar cases committed by officials and giving an appropriate criminal-legal assessment to their actions. 

Within the framework of the criminal case initiated on the fact in the Investigation Department of the RA NSS, on the basis of a direct suspicion of committing a crime, the head and warden of the cemetery were detained.

Based on the body of sufficient evidence obtained during the preliminary investigation, the above-mentioned persons were charged under the relevant articles of the RA Criminal Code, and a motion was filed to the court to select detention against them as a restrictive measure, which was satisfied.

It should be emphasized that only for taking a bribe in especially large amounts, the legislation provides for imprisonment for a term of seven to twelve years as a punishment.

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