As a result of the implementation of operational data obtained in the Yerevan City Department of the National Security Service of RA, factual data were obtained that the specialist of the first category of the civil special service of the Marash Passport Group of the Passport and Visa Office of the Police of the Ministry of Internal Affairs of RA A. S. and the head of the same group L.H., being officials, by prior agreement as part of a group, using the influence due to their official powers, in the administrative building of the mentioned passport group, on various occasions, demanded and received bribes in the form of money in various amounts from a number of citizens, including for committing illegal action in favor of the latter or persons indicated by them.

In connection with the incidents, criminal proceedings were initiated in the Investigation Department of the National Security Service of RA on the grounds of the relevant articles of the Criminal Code of RA, which were sent to the Anti-Corruption Committee of RA for the purpose of conducting a preliminary investigation under the investigative jurisdiction.

In addition, on February 6, 2023, a citizen of RA applied to the Yerevan City Department of the NSS of RA with a report on an apparent crime, in which he indicated that he applied to the Marash Passport Group in order to obtain an identification card, where an employee of the same passport group A.S. in exchange for its provision, demanded a bribe in the form of money.

On February 10, 2023, within the framework of the carried out secret investigative action “Imitation of receiving and giving a bribe”, the mentioned citizen of RA personally gave a bribe to A.S. in the administrative building of the mentioned passport group - money previously treated with appropriate chemicals, after which the latter was detained by the officers of the NSS of RA and presented the received bribe in the form of money.

As a result of operative-search and procedural actions carried out by the officers of the NSS of RA and the Anti-Corruption Committee of RA on this fact, A. S. and L. H. were brought in and detained.

By the decision of the court in relation to L. H. detention was applied as a measure of restraint, and in relation to A. S., house arrest was used as an alternative measure of restraint.   

The preliminary investigation continues.

Various operative-search measures and procedural actions are being taken in the direction of identifying all the circumstances of the multi-episode case.

Note: аnyone charged with a 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.