Former Armenian village head charged over illegal land sale to son

Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee has completed the investigation into the former head of the Hartagyugh community in Lori Province, who is accused of illegally transferring a 1.11-hectare plot of farmland worth 10 million drams to his son.

Investigators said the former official organized a sham public auction in May 2019, declaring his son the winner despite his absence. With the help of five members of the auction commission, the land was formally sold and registered under the son’s name, the Anti-Corruption Committee reported on Thursday.

The former village head has been charged with abuse of office and official forgery under Armenia’s former criminal code, while his son faces charges of document falsification. The five commission members have also been charged with complicity.

The case has been sent to the supervising prosecutor for approval before being filed in court.