Case against Armenia’s ex-minister of culture sent to anti-corruption court

The prosecutor's office has filed a case against the former Minister of Culture of Armenia Hasmik Poghosyan regarding abuses during the privatization of the school site named after Tchaikovsky, to the Anti-Corruption Court, Report informs referring to the Armenian media.

According to the case materials, Poghosyan used her official powers to the detriment of state interests and contributed to fraud.

The case against her was initiated on September 27, and on October 4 the materials were sent to the Anti-Corruption Court.

The former Ambassador of Armenia to Israel Armen Smbatyan and his son, chief conductor of the State Symphony Orchestra, UNICEF National Ambassador Sergey Smbatyan are also involved in this case.

According to the case materials, in 2012 they presented to the government a fake investment program for the construction of the World of Books multifunctional complex worth 800 million drams ($2 million) and fraudulently obtained a land plot of 300 square meters, owned by the music school named after Tchaikovsky. They were arrested but later released on bail.