Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee concludes probe into former Etchmiadzin mayor

The Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia has concluded its investigation into former Etchmiadzin mayor Diana Gasparyan, who previously served as head of the Vagharshapat municipality.

The committee reported that Gasparyan orchestrated the sale of a 9,000-square-metre plot of land through a fictitious auction, Caliber.Az reports, citing Armenian media.

The purchase was effectively financed by the mayor’s father-in-law A.M., who registered the property under the name of an acquaintance. Consequently, a plot valued at 189.2 million drams ($495,000) was sold for roughly 52 million drams ($135,720), nearly 3.5 times below its market value.

In October 2022, again under A.M.’s direction and with Gasparyan’s knowledge, the same fictitious buyer applied to the municipality to acquire an adjacent plot of approximately 1,900 square metres. Gasparyan approved the sale at nearly ten times below the market price, selling it for 5.5 million drams ($14,000) instead of 54.2 million drams.

Following these transactions, Gasparyan merged the two plots and executed another fictitious sale under the names of individuals linked to her husband, Aram Mirzoyan. On June 14, 2023, the combined plots were sold to her mother-in-law for a total of 63.5 million drams ($165,735). She subsequently changed the official designation of the land from public to residential, enabling the commencement of residential construction.

Gasparyan has been formally charged with money laundering and abuse of office. Her father-in-law and husband face charges of complicity, with the latter also accused of failing to declare substantial assets in his tax filings. Earlier, her mother-in-law, Ruzanne Asatryan, was also charged.

The investigation is now complete, and the case files have been submitted to the court.

By Vafa Guliyeva