Former Armenian Economy Minister, Vahan Kerobyan, Faces Criminal Prosecution Over Corruption Allegations

Criminal proceedings have been initiated against Vahan Kerobyan, who resigned from his ministerial position yesterday, in connection with apparent abuses during the tender for the procurement of services for the Ministry of Economy of Armenia. The Investigative Committee has not disclosed Kerobyan's current status—whether he is arrested, detained, or free. The specific charges against the former minister have not been made public.

Kerobyan visited the Investigative Committee today and has yet to leave. The Committee issued an updated report on the case, revealing an increase in the number of defendants from 7 to 8, including 5 officials from the Ministry and 3 representatives of a commercial company.

The report highlights a high-ranking Ministry official who, even after recognizing a specific fund as the winner based on a court decision, instructed his deputy to submit a budget request of 400 million AMD to the Ministry of Finance for the project's purchase.

In January, seven individuals, including four Ministry of Economy employees, were arrested in connection with alleged corruption abuses. The Investigative Committee stated that officials from the Ministry abused their powers to favor a particular participant in the competition, obstructing the participation of other funds and effectively removing them from the competition.

Kerobyan, who resigned on Wednesday, was summoned to the National Security Service and may face charges in the ongoing corruption probe. Law enforcement officers reportedly searched his office during the investigation.

The former minister, upon arriving at the Investigative Committee for questioning, emphasized that he is not accused and has not been interrogated yet. The Committee has not provided specific details about the case in which Kerobyan was summoned.