The Department of State Interests Protection of the Prosecutor General's Office initiated investigation and found out that 1,218-square-meter building of "Mush" cinema in Martuni, Gegharkunik Region, belonging to the Republic of Armenia, the 43.7-square-meter electrical substation, along with a 0.272-hectare land plot, were illegally alienated to an individual for a total of AMD 4 million 572 thousand under a contract concluded on August 14, 2006. The investigation established that at the time of alienation, the cadastral value of the property was AMD 33 million 246 thousand 992. That is, the above-mentioned properties were sold at a price many times lower than the cadastral value. Currently, the cadastral value of the property, approximated to the market value, is AMD 134 million 250 thousand.

 

According to the information received at the Prosecutor's Office, it was not taken into account the fact that on December 2, 2005 the Mayor of Martuni at the request of the population of the city and on behalf of the members of the community elders had sent an appli8cation to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia of that time asking to give the building of the only cinema to the community in order to organize the cultural life and entertainment of the youth properly.

 

On the ground of the outcomes of the investigations a criminal proceeding was initiated by the Anti-Corruption Committee on the ground of the report submitted by the Department of State Interests Protection.  

 

In addition, on March 25, 2025, the Department of State Interests Protection of the Prosecutor General's Office filed a lawsuit with the Anti-Corruption Court, demanding to recognize the purchase and sale agreement signed on August 14, 2006 between the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and an individual as invalid.

 

The lawsuit substantiated that the public "Mush" cinema located at 66 Myasnikyan Street in the city of Martuni, Gegharkunik Region, was sold at a price significantly lower than the market price and cadastral values, violating both the legal requirements for property valuation and the alienation of state property.

 

By the decision of the Anti-Corruption Court of June 1, 2026, the claim of the Prosecutor General's Office was satisfied. The alienation agreement for the "Mush" cinema in the city of Martuni, signed on August 14, 2006 between the Ministry of Culture and Youth Affairs of the Republic of Armenia and a citizen, was declared invalid.

 

After the court's decision enters into legal force, the 1218 square meter building, the 43.7 square meter electrical substation and the 0.272 hectare land plot of the "Mush" cinema in the city of Martuni will be returned to the Republic of Armenia.