The head of Armenia’s Urban Development Committee, Vahagn Vermishyan, arrested on February 5 on suspicion of bribery, has been formally charged and detained.

According to the National Security Service (NSS), Vermishyan, who’s headed the government agency since March 2019, confessed to accepting bribes in five separate cases.

The bribes, essentially kickbacks from real estate developers for preferential treatment ranged from AMD 1 million ($2,100) to AMD 2.5 million.

It is alleged that Vermishyan received a $5,000 bribe at an October 23, 2019 meeting with the owner of a network of construction companies to declare the latter the winner of the “Honored Builder of Armenia Award.

Vermishyan is also said to have received 2.3 million drams worth of construction equipment.  

Former Chief of Yerevan’s Investigative Committee John Farkhoyan, also arrested on February 5 in connection with the above bribery case, has been released on bail.

Photo (from left): John Farkhoyan, Vahagn Vermishyan