Those in need of an Armenian high school diploma need look no further than some "accomodating" principals in  Armavir Marz. All one has to do is go and hand over the cash.

One doesn't even have to be a resident of Armavir to get the diploma.

Presently, two school principals in the region have been criminally charged with "selling false diplomas", but residents claim that many more are still engaged in this lucrative practice.

On July 11, the Armavir Regional Administrative Court, in Etchmiadzin, reviewed the case of one of these principals.

It appears that Vanadzor resident Edward Mirzakhanyan had won a "Green Card" to travel to the United States. In his application to the U.S. Embassy, Mirzakhanyan had stated that he was a high school graduate; but in fact he had no diploma.

He was put in touch with Hovhannes Setaghyan from Etchmiadzin who would facilitate the process.

Edward Mirzakhanyan paid the man 370,000 AMD and gave him some personal details.

Setaghyan then contacted his friend Varuzhan Hayrapetyan, Principal of the Vagharshapat 9 High School and asked him to process a diploma for Mirzakhanyan.

According to the court indictment, Hayrapetyan processed the false diploma in return for a payment of $500.

Mirzakhanyan then took the false document to the U.S. Embassy on February 15, 2011. Embassy staff suspected the document was bogus and requested additional certification.

Mirzakhanyan went back to Setaghyan who, in turn, contacted Principal Hayrapetyan for the required supporting documentation.

Hayrapetyan handed over a signed and stamped affidavit certifying that the diploma was valid.

Al three individuals have been criminally indicted and are awaiting trial.

Edward Mirzakhanyan has been charged with "bribe giving" and "forgery, sale or use of forged documents, stamps, seals, letter-heads, and vehicle license plates".

Hovhannes Setaghyan, the middleman, has been charged with complicity in the above two crimes.

School Principal Varuzhan Hayrapetyan has been charged with "swindling and official forgery".

All three pleaded guilty in court, apologized for their actions, and asked that the court hand down a non-prison sentence.

Judge Hrachik Sargsyan agreed to hand down the most lenient of allowable sentences and then pardoned them under the general amnesty regulations passed by the RA National Assembly on May 26, 2011.

The following day, July 12, Principal Mkhitar Danielyan of High School 2 in the village of Argavand, also appeared before the same court and judge. Danielyan was also charged with the "selling" of diplomas.

Danielyan was indicted for receiving $400 from village resident Roman Nersisyan.

Nersisyan had indeed completed the eighth grade at the school but needed a high school diploma to get a job.

The man went to Principal Danielyan and inquired about taking high school equivalency courses. During their conversation, the principal told Nersisyan that he could get him a high school diploma in three days but that it would cost $400.

The transaction was made on February 21, 2011.

During the pre-trial examination, Principal Danielyan confessed to swindling Nersisyan out of $400.

In this case, the judge sentenced Danielyan to 3 years but immediately pardoned him as well.