ArmInfo. Lilit Makunts, the head of the "My Step" parliamentary faction considers it unacceptable to qualify the criminal case against former President Serzh Sargsyan as political persecution. She stated this to reporters on December 6.
Makunts recalled that reports of two criminal cases of corruption, which featured the names of Serzh Sargsyan and Deputy Minister of Education, Science, Culture and Sports of the Republic of Armenia Gevorg Loretsyan, were reported on the same day. Thus, in the fight against corruption, everyone is equal before the law, regardless of party affiliation.
She also noted that, contrary to the statements of the Republican Party of Armenia, there is no political persecution against the former president. "The criminal case was instituted on a concrete fact," Makunts said.
The third president of Armenia, Serzh Sargsyan, is accused of organizing embezzlement on an especially large scale - about 500 million drams. Serzh Sargsyan was charged on the grounds of clause 1 of part 3 of Art. 38-179 of the Criminal Code of RA - an act dangerous to society.
The matter concerns the state program approved in 2013 by the Government on more affordable acquisition of diesel fuel for spring agricultural work. According to the investigation, Sargsyan, having exceeded his official authority, facilitated the purchase of diesel fuel from Flash Ltd at higher prices.
As a preventive measure, a recognizance not to leave was taken from Sargsyan. Investigative measures in the framework of the criminal case are ongoing.
On December 4 this year, on suspicion of receiving bribes on an especially large scale, Gevorg Loretsyan, his driver, and the head of one of the football clubs operating in the Republic of Armenia, who is also the actual head of a number of supplier companies, were detained.
The deputy minister, in exchange for supporting the aforementioned business entity in obtaining tenders for the purchase of sportswear and equipment for the needs of entities subordinate to the Ministry, with the assistance of the driver, agreed to receive a bribe in especially large amounts. The driver of the deputy minister was detained immediately after the transfer of part of the funds to him from the head of the economic entity. A criminal case has been instituted.