Armenian court seeks to confiscate millions in assets from former civil aviation chief

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Court has accepted for review a lawsuit filed by the Prosecutor General’s Office seeking the confiscation of assets allegedly acquired through illegal means by former government official Artem Movsesyan, the former Head of the General Department of Civil Aviation, along with individuals affiliated with him.

According to information released by the Prosecutor’s Office and published in Armenian media outlets, Caliber.Az reports that the confiscation of the following assets is being demanded by the Republic of Armenia:

- 8 real estate properties

- 2 tangible assets

- shares in 5 legal entities

- one tranche of 1,550,258,000 Armenian drams (approx. $4,039 million) and another worth 8,419,000 Armenian drams (approximately $21,000) from various individuals

The court has imposed provisional measures to secure the claim.

The case stems from a criminal investigation launched by the Investigative Committee of Armenia, which accuses Movsesyan, who led the General Department of Civil Aviation (now renamed to the Civil Aviation Committee) from 2004 to 2016, of abuse of official authority and causing major financial damage to the state.

According to an article by Azerbaijani media outlet that cited case materials, rather than acquiring an aircraft for the Civil Aviation agency as required, Movsesyan allegedly created a company registered under the names of family and friends, following which he then leased an aircraft from that company at a rate of 218,000 drams (approx. $567) per flight hour, despite the aircraft reportedly failing to meet international aviation standards. Over time, the rental rate increased, ultimately resulting in state losses amounting to 274 million drams (approx. $710,000).

The charges brought against the individuals involved include abuse of official power and causing substantial damage to the state and document forgery. As part of the investigation, Movsesyan’s assets have been frozen.

By Nazrin Sadigova