The preliminary investigation carried out under the criminal proceedings initiated in the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia on the basis of materials received from the State Revenue Committee of the Republic of Armenia established that the customs inspectors of Bagratashen customs point A. M. and A. G., having entered into a preliminary agreement as part of a group, with the assistance of truck drivers, they deliberately failed to perform their official duties and allowed empty trucks to leave without checking the availability of relevant goods, as a result of which the state suffered material damage on a particularly large scale, amounting to about AMD 700 million.
In particular, on December 25 and 26, 2023, a close friend of the customs inspector A. M. R. G. imported 87.6 tons of motor oils from the Islamic Republic of Iran, however, in order to be exempt from the obligation to pay customs duties, taxes and other fees in the amount of AMD 69 million for the specified goods imported for domestic consumption, the entrepreneur registered them under the “Re-export” customs procedure. Then the trucks carrying them were unloaded before reaching Bagratashen customs point, and without the cargo they entered the control zone located on the export route. At the same time, customs inspectors A.M. and A.G., holding their service in the export zone, without weighing the trucks and without checking the existence of the relevant goods in them, knowingly did not perform their official duties and, with the assistance of the drivers of these vehicles, allowed transportation of goods that were not actually exported from the customs territory of the Eurasian Economic Union to the third countries, thus exempting R.G. from the obligation to pay taxes.
In addition, during the preliminary investigation, another 15 cases of crimes committed using the same mechanism were revealed. In particular, it was established that R.G. imported a total of more than 700 tons of various types of motor oils from the Republic of Iran within the period from October 21, 2022 to December 22, 2023. In order to be exempt from the obligation to pay customs duties, taxes and other duties established by law when importing goods, the specified goods imported by R.G. again were re-registered under the “Re-export” customs procedure. However, the vehicles they loaded were unloaded before arriving at Bagratashen customs post and, without cargo, entered the control zone located on the export route, where, upon the prior consent of the above-mentioned two SRC officials and with the assistance of truck drivers, the empty trucks were allowed to leave the territory of the EAEU to third countries without proper customs control procedures, as a result of which taxes, duties or other mandatory payments of a particularly large amount, about AMD 700 million, were not paid to the state budget.
During the preliminary investigation, charges were brought against 15 people. For the use of official or service powers to the detriment of the interests of the state and failure to perform official duties, customs inspectors A.M. and A.G. were charged under Article 441 Part 2 Clauses 2 and 4 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia (16 episodes), and the drivers assisting them – under Articles 46-441 Part 2 Clauses 2 and 4 of RA Criminal Code.
Arrest was applied as a measure of restriction the Customs inspectors.
In the course of the preliminary investigation, a ban was imposed on the property of the accused for the amount of damage caused to the state in a particularly large amount, about AMD 700 million.
The preliminary investigation under the criminal proceedings has been completed, the materials of the proceedings have been sent to the court with an indictment for consideration on the merits.
Notification. the person accused of a crime is considered innocent until his guilt is proven in accordance with the procedure established by the RA Criminal Procedure Code by a verdict entered into legal force.
