Former Armenian Minister of Emergency Situations Andranik Piloyan has been sentenced to four years and five months imprisonment after the country’s Anti-Corruption Court found him guilty of bribery and embezzlement.

Piloyan, a retired army general who was awarded the title of National Hero for his participation in the 2020 Karabakh war, was arrested in March 2022. He was dismissed as minister soon after.

Piloyan will also have to pay a 1.3 million dram fine.

The Ministry of Emergency Situations (MES), in June 2023, was incorporated into the Ministry of Internal Affairs.