RA Anti-Corruption Committee exposes illegal sale of community lands 

ArmInfo.  The former head of the Ani community in the Shirak region illegally sold community real estate to his relative at a price lower than the cadastral and market price, the Anti-Corruption Committee reports.

According to the information, the person who held the position of  head of the Ani community in 2004- 2022, using his official and  service powers and the influence exerted by them to the detriment of  official interests, illegally alienated community buildings and  structures with a market value of 14.5 million and 5 million drams,  respectively, without assessing their market value, to his relative  at prices significantly lower than the cadastral value.

In particular, the preliminary investigation established that the  above-mentioned official, having received the consent of the  Community Council, organized and held an auction for the sale of  1217.74 square meters of real estate located on the territory of the  community, setting the starting price at 608 thousand drams, which is  significantly lower than the cadastral value. As a result, the head  of the community sold the said property to his relative at a price 8  million drams lower than the cadastral value, namely 812 thousand  drams, causing property damage to the legitimate interests of the  community in the amount of about 14.5 million drams.

In addition, it was established that the head of the community  organized and held an auction for the sale of other real estate  located on the territory of this community, with an area of 649.14  square meters, with a market value of 5 million drams, which is the  property of the community. As a result, the said real estate was  again alienated to his relative at a price 3 million drams lower than  the cadastral value, namely 352 thousand drams, causing property  damage to the legitimate interests of the community in the amount of  about 5 million drams.

The former head of the Ani community was charged under Part 1  (Episode 2) of Article 441 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of  Armenia. The preliminary investigation of the criminal case has been  completed, and the case materials have been sent to the  Anti-Corruption Court of the Republic of Armenia with an indictment.

The department noted that from January 1 to August 14, 2025, 12  criminal cases with an indictment were sent to the court against the  heads of 13 communities. Among them are the former heads of the  communities of Ptghni and Abovyan in Kotayk region, Ijevan in Tavush  region, Byurakan in Aragatsotn region, Nor Kharberd and Goravan in  Ararat region.

In total, the property damage caused to the community by criminal  proceedings completed during the reporting period amounted to more  than 424 million drams, of which about 7 million drams were actually  restored in monetary form, and 9 land plots worth 159 million drams  were restored in property form.