Media: Armenia investigating several cases related to Defence Ministry

Several criminal cases related to the Ministry of Defence are being investigated by the Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia.

"One case involves the purchase of 10 snowmobiles. The Ministry of Defense bought European-made snowmobiles at a price several times higher than the market value. Deputy Minister Karen Brutyan refused to comment on questions related to this case, but a source in the committee confirmed the information," Caliber.Az reports, citing the Armenian newspaper Hraparak.

"The second case concerns defects discovered during construction work carried out by the Ministry of Defense. Seven people are facing charges in this case, most of whom are in custody. Serious abuses were found related to concrete work," the newspaper writes.

The newspaper does not rule out that Deputy Chief of the General Staff Karen Grigoryan and former head of the Capital Construction Department Vaagn Stepanyan are involved in the case.

According to the publication, a private company, commissioned by the armed forces, built a road, and Grigoryan demanded that the unit's command accept the road and sign the documents. However, they refused to sign and pay for the poor-quality work, which led to the dismissal of Deputy Chief of Logistics Grenik Papoyan.

A similar incident occurred in the Second Army Corps: Commander Garegin Poghosyan also refused to accept the construction. In this case, the incident was covered up.

By Khagan Isayev