The territories adjacent to the railway line along the 1st Noragavit street, Shengavit Administrative district of Yerevan, which are lands of common use and not subject of privatization were alienated to a number of citizens under the right of ownership causing significant damage to the legitimate interests of the state.

The information regarding land parcels seized without authorization in the alienation zone of the "South Caucasus Railway", received from the Ministry of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure of the RA on the 24th of May, 2022 was examined in the Prosecutor’s Office of Yerevan within the framework of the function of initiating a lawsuit for the protection of state interests. In the results of investigation it was discovered that the territories adjacent to the railway line along the 1st Noragavit street were green belts of common use. By examining the location plan, preliminary data was obtained in the municipality of Shengavit district regarding the alienation of the land parcels in the same zone to a number of persons under the right of ownership.

On the 30th of January, 2023 and the 14th of February, 2023, the Prosecutor’s Office of Yerevan made inquiries to the Cadastre Committee and the State Urban Development Committee in order to check the received information.

According to the replies received from the Committees:

• the immovable properties are located on the green belts of common use and buffer zones;
• most of the lands included in the areas of green belts of common use were alienated to a number of persons under the right of ownership;
• the State Urban Development Committee did not receive suggestions on changing the category of land use.

Taking into account that alleged factual data was obtained during investigation conducted in the frameworks of initiating a lawsuit for the protection of state interests regarding the case of alienation of land of common use, not subject of expropriation to a number of persons through abusing of official position and forgery by the representatives of Yerevan Municipality, on the 20th of March, 2013, the prosecutor submitted a report on a crime to the Anti-Corruption Committee.

On the 29th of March, 2023, criminal proceedings were initiated in the Anti-Corruption Committee under Article 441, Part 1 of the Criminal Code of the RA (use of official position against the interests of service or the State) and under Article 445, Part 1 (distorting the content of a document in official circulation or subject to circulation by an official).

Notice:  A person charged with any crime shall be presumed innocent until proved guilty in the manner prescribed by the RA Criminal Procedure Code—by the judgment came into legal force