On November 11, 2025, the Prosecutor’s Office announced that, as a result of prosecutorial intervention, approximately 5330 hectares of land located in Ararat Region, valued at USD 158 263 000 and previously granted to the “Animal World” LLC for gratuitous use several years ago, had been returned to the Republic of Armenia.

At the same time, having identified indications of a criminal offense in the alienation process, the prosecutor filed a criminal report, on the basis of which criminal proceedings were initiated by the Anti-Corruption Committee under Article 441, Part 2, Point 2 of the Criminal Code.

On August 14, 2026, the Prosecutor’s Office also announced that the Anti-Corruption Court had granted a claim filed by the Prosecutor’s Office of Ararat Region, declaring invalid the auction held on January 27, 2008, concerning a 0.3-hectare land plot between the head of Jermuk Community and “Animal World” LLC.

Once the court ruling enters into legal force, the 0.3-hectare land plot will be returned to Jermuk Community.

Continuing the examination of the legality of the acquisition of land plots belonging to “Animal World” LLC, the Prosecutor’s Office found several additional violations.

In particular:

V. H., who served as the Marzpet of Ararat Region from June 12, 2008 to July 15, 2010, allegedly exceeded his official powers in order to secure a favorable outcome for H.A., who had held the position of the Minister of Territorial Administration during 2006; V.M., who was a Member of the National Assembly of Armenia during the same period; and A. S., a resident of the village of Arinj in Kotayk Region. Through a formally conducted tender process, he allocated to “Animal World” LLC, under a 25-year lease, four environmental land plots located within the administrative boundaries of the Ararat Region, with a total area of 1054.95 hectares.

On August 10, 2026, the Prosecutor’s Office filed a claim with the Anti-Corruption Court against “Animal World” LLC, seeking to have the tender held on November 23, 2009, concerning the 1054.95 hectares of land declared invalid and to apply the legal consequences of invalidity.

By a decision dated August 16, 2026, the Court admitted the claim for proceedings.

As a result of formally conducted tenders between 2005 and 2008, he allocated environmental land plots with a total area of 1480 hectares to various individuals under lease agreements.

Based on the violations found during the investigation, on November 5, 2026, the prosecutor filed a claim with the Anti-Corruption Court seeking to have the tenders declared invalid and to apply the legal consequences of their invalidity.

At the same time, the prosecutor submitted a criminal report to the Anti-Corruption Committee for the purpose of determining whether criminal proceedings should be initiated.