Top prosecutor asks parliament to greenlight indictment of MP suspected of bribery

Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetyan on Wednesday officially requested parliament to allow the indictment of Member of Parliament Hovik Aghazaryan.

Initiating criminal proceedings against a sitting MP requires parliament to approve the motion because legislators have immunity. 

Vardapetyan told lawmakers that Aghazaryan is suspected of bribery. She said that Aghazaryan allegedly demanded 100,000$ from two entrepreneurs for obtaining a livestock export license without the necessary procedures. The MP did not receive the bribe in this case. However, in another case, according to prosecutors, Aghazaryan allegedly took a 23,000$ bribe to secure a construction permit in Yerevan for a construction project. The MP allegedly took the bribe but didn’t deliver the promised permit. 

Aghazaryan has denied any wrongdoing.