The mayor of Meghri has been arrested amid preparations for local elections.
The head of the Meghri community, Khachatur Andreasyan, is under investigation for bribery and illegal use of subsoil resources. Arrest and house arrest measures have been applied to 6 other individuals involved in the case.
As reported by "Caucasian Knot", on September 1, the Investigative Committee of Armenia issued a warrant for the arrest of Gagik Khachatryan in a case of receiving bribes and laundering money on a large scale. Searches were conducted in the apartments of Khachatryan and his son, as well as in the offices of about 21 companies affiliated with them.
The head of the Meghri community, Khachatur Andreasyan, has been arrested in a case of illegal use of subsoil resources and receiving bribes, News.am reported, citing the Anti-Corruption Committee. Arrest and house arrest measures have also been applied to 6 other individuals detained in the same case. The head of the Syunik regional branch of the Eco-Patrol service is also involved in the case.
Law enforcement agencies are focusing on a case of misappropriation of diesel fuel smuggled into the country, which is allegedly linked to the entourage of the community head, the newspaper "Graparak" reports, citing its sources.
It should be noted that elections for local self-government bodies are scheduled in Meghri for October 25.
Khachatur Andreasyan was elected head of the Meghri community on May 30, 2024. Before his election, he was a member of the "Liberal" party, but after being elected, he joined the ruling party "Civil Contract," reported "Armenpress."
Earlier, there were reports of a conflict between Andreasyan and his deputy Bagrat Zakaryan. According to publications, after Andreasyan took over the community, he dismissed Zakaryan from his position. Prior to this, Zakaryan had led the community for about two and a half years, after which, according to agreements reached, the management was supposed to pass to Andreasyan under the principle of rotation, the publication Panorama.am notes.
Recall that on August 31, the Anti-Corruption Court of Armenia extended for three months the house arrest measure against former Minister of Education and Science, Vice-Chairman of the Republican Party, Armen Ashotyan. Ashotyan became one of the high-ranking officials against whom the Investigative Committee initiated a criminal case for abuse of power and money laundering. In this case, former Minister of Defense Vigen Sargsyan, former Minister of Finance Gagik Khachatryan and his son Artem, as well as the former rector and vice-rector of Brusov State University, were also arrested.