Epress.am News from Armenia
A criminal case has been launched in the Protection of State Interests Department of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office on squandering, abuse of official authority and official forgery, according to a statement published by the General Prosecutor’s Office on its website today, which continues as follows:
“The department investigated the materials sent by the RA Ministry of Finance prepared based on the results of checking the accuracy of the appointment and payment of pensions implemented in the State Social Security Service of the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs and revealed that the officials, having the organizational liabilities for the pensions’ appointment, payment and supervision implemented in the State Social Security Service of the RA Ministry of Labor and Social Affairs, abused their official authorities for personal and group interests and included false data in the official documents, based on expired certificates, formed false documents in the name of dead pensioners as well as by appointing double pensions and additional job experience, in 2009-2010, drew 113,181,900 drams [about $305,897 US] from the state budget and squandered it, as a result of which an essential damage was caused to the state.
“Upon a decision by the head of the Protection of State Interests Department of the RA General Prosecutor’s Office Armen Nikoghosyan, a criminal case was initiated according to the RA Criminal Code Article 179 Section 3 Point 1 and Article 308 Section 2 and Article 314 Section 1.”
Recall, head of Armenia’s State Social Security Service (also referred to as State Social Insurance Service) Vazgen Khachikyan (pictured) was made redundant by RA Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan in Dec. 2010, in connection with violations that were uncovered in the State Social Security Service as a result of investigations carried out by the Control Chamber. According to recent media reports, Khachikyan’s health condition has deteriorated sharply since.
Photo: Photolure