Your trusted source

Two days after media reports, Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS) says it has arrested two officials of the State Oversight Service accused of misuse of power through illegal interference into the state procurement process and creation of obstacles for lawful business activities.

In a statement released in on Thursday, the service says according to the obtained information, the acting head of the Procurement Process Control Department of the State Oversight Service reached a prior agreement with the chief expert of the same department and stemming from personal interests, abused their power to interfere illegally into the state procurement of equipment for medical facilities aimed at ensuring victory of the company sponsored by them in the tender in 2018-2019.

The two officials, as well as the representative of the sponsored company, were arrested on 25 February. The NSS says charges have been brought against the two officials under the requirements of Article 308.2 (abuse of power) and 325.2 (forgery, sale or use of forged documents) of Armenia’s Criminal Code.

An investigation is underway, with efforts being taken to reveal all the corruption offences in the procurement and the involved persons, as well as to determine the extent of the damage.