As a result of large-scale evidentiary and other procedural actions carried out under the multi-episode criminal proceedings investigated in the Anti-Corruption Committee of the Republic of Armenia, it was established that the person holding the position of the President of the Republic of Armenia, using his official position to facilitate actions in favor of a director of an LLC, namely, for not obstructing the transaction on the sale of 100 percent of the company's shares to a non-resident of the Republic of Armenia, in February and April 2008, with the assistance of the person holding the position of Senior Assistant to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia during the same period, received a bribe in an especially large amount of USD 2,985,000 from the businessman mentioned above.

The criminal proceedings established that on February 20, 2008, the former high-ranking official of the Republic of Armenia, with the assistance of several persons, received part of the bribe from the businessman mentioned above in the amount of USD 2,660,000 in cash, and received the rest with the assistance of some persons affiliated with him.

In particular, the preliminary investigation revealed that, upon the instructions of the above-mentioned high-ranking official, the process of paying the remaining part of the bribe by the businessman through an affiliated person was organized, as a result of which, on April 3 and 21, 2008, USD 200,000 and 125,000 respectively, were transferred to the bank account of the person mentioned above, noting the purpose of transferring these amounts as “charity”, which was used to cover the expenses for renting hot air balloons during the event held in Yerevan during the inauguration of the President of the Republic of Armenia and for several days following it, as well as other expenses incurred during this event.

For receiving a bribe in an especially large amount, the person holding the position of the President of the Republic of Armenia has been charged under Article 311, Part 4, Clause 2 of the former Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia.

The preliminary investigation on the part separated from the criminal proceedings related to him has been completed. The materials of the proceedings, together with the indictment, have been sent to the supervising prosecutor with a motion to approve it and send it to court.
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.