Armenian watchdog files 23 criminal complaints over large-scale fraud

Public Oversight NGO Chairman Mher Karagyozyan says he has filed 23 criminal complaints to the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office, urging authorities to open cases against state officials whose inaction, he claims, enabled widespread fraud.

Speaking to reporters after leaving the Prosecutor’s Office, Karagyozyan said the protest held on Wednesday aimed to demand investigations into schemes that left more than 20,000 people defrauded.

He accused officials of ignoring repeated warnings and allowing “illegal entrepreneurial activity” to flourish. According to him, citizens who attempted to report crimes to the police were met with mockery rather than assistance.

“If the authorities had addressed the issue in time, the country would not end up in a chaotic situation now,” Karagyozyan said, adding that victims had been discouraged from trusting state institutions after being told “Where was your head?” when seeking help.