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No one has yet been charged as part of a criminal probe into abuse of office and large-scale misappropriation at the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF).

In response to a query from Panorama.am, the Prosecutor General’s Office said only several persons were questioned as part of the criminal case.

The state-run investment fund was led by Yerevan Mayor Tigran Avinyan before its dissolution in August this year.

At the October 15 meeting of the Yerevan City Council, opposition Mother Armenia faction member Manuk Sukiasyan addressed the criminal investigation into the state agency, saying, “A criminal case has been launched into misuse of 10 billion drams at ANIF, but no one has been charged.”

Panorama asked the Prosecutor’s Office to reveal what measures were taken during the criminal proceedings and whether there were any suspects.

“Following an audit conducted by employees of the State Oversight Service of the Republic of Armenia at the Armenian National Interests Fund, criminal proceedings were initiated by the Department for Investigation of Cases on Special Assignments at the Armenian Investigative Committee under Article 256.3 (Paragraph 3) and Article 277.2 (Paragraph 2) of the Armenian Criminal Code. A number of persons were questioned and a series of investigative actions were carried out. At this point, no one is charged as part of the criminal case. The preliminary investigation is underway,” the agency replied.

The two articles of Armenia’s Criminal Code concern misuse of entrusted property and abuse of office.