As a result of large-scale operative-search activities and procedural actions carried out by the Department of Economic Security and Countering Corruption and the Investigation Department of the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia in the format of interaction, it was established that the officials of the SRC of RA, using their power and official powers, for connivance towards the briber or a person represented by him and committing an unlawful act in his favor, in some cases - personally, in some cases - as part of a group with other officials of the SRC of RA, and in some cases - with the assistance of other persons in the conditions of concealment in the submitted declarations of the real volume, weight, countries of origin of various goods imported by economic entities, importing various goods to the Republic of Armenia, or acting on their behalf as representatives of companies engaged in customs brokerage or cargo transportation, and distortion of other data necessary for customs clearance for the period from November 2022 to January 11, 2023 demanded from the mentioned persons and received a bribe in the form of money in different, including large amounts in AMD or foreign currency, for not registering the mentioned violations, not taking appropriate measures and organizing the unhindered passage of customs cargo.

In addition, it was established that a high-ranking official of the Department for Combating Smuggling of the SRC of RA, using his power and official powers, for showing connivance towards an official of the SRC, namely, not taking appropriate measures in the conditions of allowing the above-described abuses by various economic entities involved in import, but instead for the implementation of the unhindered passage of goods, demanded and received a bribe in the form of money from the latter in November 2022 in order not to convict the official of crimes of receiving a bribe in the form of money, and also not to take appropriate measures in this direction.

As part of the criminal proceedings initiated in the Investigation Department of the NSS of RA on these facts, more than three dozen searches were carried out, during which data were found and seized indicating the involvement of the above-mentioned persons in the commission of crimes, as well as illegally stored firearms. Based on these facts, criminal proceedings were initiated, which were combined with the given criminal proceedings.

During the preliminary investigation, on the basis of facts testifying to the commission of crimes, under the relevant articles of the RA Criminal Code, public criminal prosecution was initiated against 15 persons, against 12 of whom detention was chosen as a measure of restraint.

The preliminary investigation of the criminal proceedings continues, the necessary investigative actions and operative-search measures are being taken to identify all the circumstances of the case and the full circle of officials and other persons involved in the criminal scheme and to apply criminal law measures against them.

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.