V.A., who carried out illegal gold ore mining, will be ordered to pay the Republic of Armenia 327.5 million drams in compensation for damage caused to the state, as well as a state fee of 16.3 million drams. The corresponding claim of the prosecutor’s office was satisfied by the Anti-Corruption Court on October 2.
In the criminal cases initiated on November 27, 2017 and February 1, 2018, which were combined into one proceeding, it was established that in 2017, V.A., a resident of Vardenis, without the appropriate permit for mineral extraction, in violation of the rules for the use and protection of mineral resources, carried out illegal gold ore mining in the territory of Vardenis community of Gegharkunik region, as a result of which the state suffered damage in the amount of 327.5 million drams.
On December 27, 2018, the criminal case against V.A. was sent to the competent court. He was charged with violating the rules for the protection and use of subsoil. Based on the expiration of the statute of limitations, on January 29, 2020, the court decided to terminate the case and prosecution.
On March 20, 2020, the senior prosecutor of the Gegharkunik regional prosecutor’s office filed a claim with the court demanding to collect 327.5 million drams in favor of the Republic of Armenia. By the decision of the anti-corruption court dated December 13, 2023, the claim was partially satisfied and a decision was made to collect 100 million drams.
The prosecutor filed an appeal against the decision of the anti-corruption court on January 16, 2024, which was satisfied, and the case was sent for a new trial. As a result, on October 2, 2024, by the decision of the Anti-Corruption Court, the claim of the prosecutor’s office was fully satisfied, and a decision was made to collect 327.5 million drams in favor of the Republic of Armenia as compensation for damage caused to the state, as well as a state fee in the amount of 16.3 million drams.