The preliminary investigation of the criminal case on the squandering by the head of the National Seismic Protection Service Agency of the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations has been completed in the RA Special Investigation Service. The prosecutor supervising the preliminary investigation of the criminal case has confirmed the bill of indictment.

It has been revealed and confirmed during the preliminary investigation that on July 10, 2008 the head of the National Seismic Protection Service Agency of the RA Ministry of Emergency Situations and the director of the "Support Center for the Seismic Risk Reduction Program" NGO A. Antonyan signed a memorandum with B. Feyner the representative of the Environmental Supervision Department of the Atomic Energy Commissariat of France. According to the memorandum up-to-date seismic stations should be built in Vayoc Dzor by bilateral financing.

Opposite to the prior agreement the representatives of the French side later assumed the whole financing of the construction and on August 27, 2009 a part of the money that is 37 466 800 drams equal to 70 000 Euro was transferred to the account of A. Antonyan's "Support Center for the Seismic Risk Reduction Program" NGO in order to carry out the works of the construction.

According to the preliminary investigation data A. Antonyan used his authorities as a negotiating side, received the mentioned sum of money and put it in the cash desk of the NGO. Later from September 1, 2009 to December 31, 2009 he built and put into operation 6 seismic stations in Vayk and in the territories of "Vayk Group" CJSC in Zedea community in Vayoc Dzor region by signing contracts with different individuals in order to involve them in the construction of the stations and for buying building materials. However as there was a lack of proper supervision over the construction by the National Seismic Body A Antonyan squandered 3 324 387 drams entrusted to him for the implementation of the program.

On the obtained evidences A. Antonyan has been charged according to the RA Criminal Code Article 179 part 3 point 1. The criminal case has been sent to the Court of First Instance of Vayoc Dzor to carry out the thorough investigation of the criminal case.

Prosecutor General's Office of the Republic of Armenia