
ArmInfo. The Armenian Prosecutor's Office has identified a violation in the alienation process of Yerevan Market No. 7 LLC. A lawsuit has been filed in court on behalf of state interests, according to a statement from the supervisory authority.
According to a source, the Department for the Protection of State Interests of the Central Military Prosecutor's Office conducted an investigation into the alienation of 100% of the state-owned ARKROS LLC. The investigation revealed that in 2003, 100% of the state-owned ARKROS LLC was transferred to the ownership of the Republic of Armenia, represented by the Ministry of Defense (the MEGAMALL shopping center is currently located on the market's premises). ARKROS LLC, which has become state-owned, holds 100% of the state-owned Yerevan Market No. 7 LLC, which it acquired in 1999 for 282,452,000 drams.
The study also revealed that, according to a report by the Minister of Defense of the Republic of Armenia, without an appraisal conducted in accordance with the established procedure, a government decree of June 10, 2004 permitted the alienation of 100% of the state-owned ARKROS LLC through direct sale to a private individual, setting the sale price at 160,562,730 drams, equivalent to 303,000 US dollars. Meanwhile, approximately seven months prior to the adoption of the resolution, within the framework of enforcement proceedings, 100% of the company's shares were valued at 306,346,630 drams, which was also known during the discussion of the draft resolution. Moreover, the Minister of Finance and Economy of the Republic of Armenia proposed selling the shares at auction instead of directly, but this proposal was not accepted.
Despite the above, on July 14, 2004, 100% of the shares of ARKROS LLC were sold for $303,000 (145,783,900 drams below the appraised value).
The prosecutor, having discovered clear signs of a crime while exercising his authority to protect state interests, filed a report of the crime with the Anti-Corruption Committee, and a criminal case was opened.
The Military Prosecutor's Office filed a lawsuit to protect state interests with the competent court, which was accepted for consideration.
It should be noted that the Mega Mall Armenia shopping and entertainment center in Yerevan is owned by the family of Armenian entrepreneur and former National Assembly member Samvel Aleksanyan.