MEGHRI FORMER MAYOR ACCUSED OF OFFICIAL AUTHORITY ABUSE

Noyan Tapan
Dec 23, 2009

MEGRI, 23 DECEMBER, NOYAN TAPAN. The criminal case initiated on the
abuse of official authority by Meghri former mayor is heard in the
Court of First Instance of Syunik region.

During the investigation of the criminal case by the Investigation
Division of the RA Police, Syunik region, it was found out and
justified that the former mayor of Meghri Misha Hovhannisyan broke
the RA law on "Real Estate Appraisal Act" (Article 8, part 1 "The
appraisal of the real estate is compulsory when the state or community
property is alienated") and on December 20, 2005 sold to his brother
R. Khurshudyan the hall of 189,2 km2 with the market price of 5.675.000
drams registered in the balance of the municipality by an evidently
low price that is 567.000 drams.

Besides, he sold to S. Hambardzumyan, a member of Council of Elders,
5 hectare industrial lot of Meghri community property next to Meghri
factory of broken-stones with the market price of 16 million drams
by 13.860.000 drams and 15 hectare agricultural lot with the market
price of 7.5 million drams by 551.250 drams.

Based on the evaluation by the preliminary investigation body, M.

Hovhannisyan abused his official duties for personal interests as a
result of which caused the community 14.196.750 drams damage.

On the obtained proofs M. Hovhannisyan was charged according to the
RA Criminal Code, Article 308, part 1. The prosecutor in charge of
controlling the legality of the preliminary investigation confirmed
the accusatory conclusion.