Armenia`s Anti-Corruption Committee finds no criminality in Talin  community head`s pre-election social aid distribution

ArmInfo. The Anti-Corruption Committee of Armenia has determined that the actions of Tavros Sapeyan—head of the Talin community in the Aragatsotn region and member of the ruling "Civil Contract" party—did not  constitute the crime of electoral bribery. Sapeyan had been providing social aid ranging from 30,000 to 300,000 drams to local residents in the lead-up to the country's parliamentary elections.

"In the case under review, the head of the Talin community was  carrying out  functions arising from his official duties related to  addressing community issues. Tavros Sapeyan issued decisions on  providing social assistance not as a party member or a parliamentary  candidate, but as the head of the community.  Moreover, these  decisions were not based on personal motives or party interests, but  were made in accordance with legally established  procedures—specifically, on the basis of citizen applications for  social aid," the Anti-Corruption Committee stated.

According to the Criminal Code of Armenia, from the moment the  President signs the decree setting the election date until the final  results are tallied, candidates and members of political forces are  prohibited— personally or on their behalf—from providing or promising  money, food, securities, goods, or services to voters or referendum  participants, whether free of charge or on preferential terms. Such  actions are classified as a criminal offense.

The situation presents a curious contrast to recent events: just a  few weeks ago, Gohar Ghumashyan, a member of Samvel Karapetyan's  "Strong Armenia" party, was detained on charges of conducting  unauthorized "charity" simply for sending a gift to a World War II  veteran. This occurred despite her role as a representative of the  "Immortal Regiment" NGO. However, as trivial as it may sound, the  Anti- Corruption Committee saw no corpus delicti (body of a crime) in  the actions of the ruling power's representative. A similar lack of  criminal findings followed a recent incident where Yerevan Mayor  Tigran Avinyan, also a member of the ruling party, gifted a camera to  a citizen during the pre-election period.

Parliamentary elections in Armenia are scheduled for June 7 of this  year, with 17 parties and two political blocs set to participate.