On 27 July, 2023, by the decision of the Prosecutor, public criminal prosecution was initiated against A.S, the father and S.S., the son, as well as A.P., a businessman.

In the course of criminal proceedings, it was found that in 2012 A.S., Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary, the latter's son, conductor S.S. and A.P., the businessman, presented to the Government of the Republic of Armenia a fake investment program "Book World", worth 800 million AMD, for building a multi-functional complex and to fraudulently embezzled the 300 sq. m. land parcel, worth 166 million 103 thousand AMD, separated from the plot at 36 Koghbatsi Street, Yerevan, which had been provided to “Yerevan Specialized Secondary Music School Named after Tchaykovsky with the right of free use.

In particular, A.S., under the pretext of not expanding business activities in the name of his son S.S., convinced his relative H.A. to establish the "Sokhocentr" LLC for S.S., after which on February 17, 2012, H.A. and G.D., a close friend of H.P., who held the position of RA Minister of Culture in 2012-2016, founded the "Sokhocenter" LLC.

On February 21, 2012, N.K., the Director of the Company presented an investment program to the Mayor of Yerevan, which was proposed in connection with the 500th anniversary of Armenian printing and UNESCO's recognition of Yerevan as the world book capital in 2012. The proposal was aimed at construction of a multi-functional complex "Books World", for the purpose of which the 300 sq.m. plot of land separated from the land at 36 Koghbatsi street was provided to the "Sokhocenter" company. In addition to the construction of the multi-functional complex "Book World" with an investment volume of 800 million AMD, the company has committed to carry out construction works of an additional area worth 102 million AMD in order to improve the conditions of the "Yerevan Specialized Secondary Music School Named after Chaykovsky" SNOC.

In order to get a conclusion, the Mayor of Yerevan addressed the proposed investment program to H.P., RA Minister of Culture in response to which H.P., being informed that "Sokhocenter" LLC will use the land for non-educational purposes and build a multi-functional building on it, did not object to the presented investment plan.

"Yerevan Specialized Secondary Music School Named after Chaykovsky" SNOC also gave its consent to the mentioned program, represented by the director M.K., who in his turn was the brother of N.K., the director of "Sokhocenter" LLC.

As a result, the above-mentioned program was approved by the RA Government's decision N 1052-A of July 26, 2012. According to the 1st point of part 3 of the Government's decision, RA Minister of Culture H.P. was authorized to sign a pledge agreement in order to ensure the transfer of ownership rights to the land plot and the implementation of the construction of the "Book World" multi-functional complex (the subject of the pledge is 300 sq. m. plot of land and the 35.3 sq. m. boiler house located at Koghbatsi 36).

Then H.P., the RA Minister of Culture using her official powers against state interests, on December 3, 2012 signed "Property Alienation and Pledge" and "General Lien" contracts with "Sokhocenter" LLC, with the purpose of not including them in the main investment obligation defined by the Government's decision, that is, the fulfillment of the obligation of 800 million AMD defined by the investment program for building a multi-functional complex "Book World" by "Sokhocenter" LLC. As a result, H.P. gave the shareholders of "Sokhocentr" LLC an opportunity to register the company's ownership right on November 3, 2016, over a 300 sq. m. plot of land separated from the plot at 36 Koghbatsi Street in Yerevan, causing the state 966 million 103 thousand AMD property damage.

According to the decisions of the supervising prosecutor dated July 27, 2023, A.S. was charged with Article 38-178, Part 3, Clause 1, S.P. under Article 178, Part 3, Clause 1 and A.P., under Article 178, Part 3, Clause of the RA Criminal Code adopted on April 18, 2003.

On July 29, 2023, A.S. and S.S. were arrested. Measures are being taken to find A.P.’s location (A.P. was found and arrested).

Addition: according to the Court's decision, detention for two months is selected as a measure of restraint against A.S., S.S. and A.P.

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.