Another criminal case opened in connection with apples traffic from Azerbaijan to Armenia

ArmInfo. On the basis of activities  conducted by Armenian National Security Service aimed at finding out  the circumstances of Azerbaijani apples import to Armenia on article  2015, part 1 of the Criminal Code of Armenia is opened a case on the  fact of evasion of payment of taxes, duties or other mandatory  payments in large amounts.

As the Prosecutor General's Office press service reports, during the  preliminary investigation information was found on illegal traffic by  a number of figures from Georgia to Armenia agricultural products  including Azerbaijani apples. "At the same time, as a result of the  activities conducted by the Armenian NSS agents it was found that the  products were imported to Armenia without passing customs control  because of the bribes given to customs service personel.

Besides, during the preparation of materials, in the State Revenue  Committee it was also found that a group of citizens purchased and  sold in the Armenian market the apples from Azerbaijan", the report  reads. 

According to the materials, information was also found on the fact  that since December 2016 to April 2017 the mentioned officials of the  Customs Service Point "Bagratashen" were periodically bribed by the  figures implementing illegal entrepreneurship for the provision of  allowance to traffic fruits and vegetables through the state border  of Armenia without Customs procedures. On the basis of the above  mentioned, a criminal case is opened in the State Revenue Committee  in part 2 of the Art. 188-th (Illegal entrepreneurship, involving the  infliction of large-scale damage to persons) and Part 1 of Art.  311-th (Taking a bribe) of the Criminal Code of Armenia. Considering  the fact that criminal proceedings are instituted against persons  carrying out special civil service in accordance with the procedure  established by Art. 190-th Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia, the  investigation in criminal cases was transferred to the Special  Investigation Service of Armenia.     

To note, the State Service for Food Safety of the Ministry of  Agriculture of Armenia carried out research on 3 April from trade  points of Yerevan and the regions of the country. Already on April 25  it became clear that apples of Azerbaijani origin are subject to  disposal, since they do not have the relevant safety certificates.  "The state service does not yet know which country imported  Azerbaijani-made apples to Armenia, and which company imported them,"  the head of the department, Ishkhan Karapetyan, told reporters on  April 27 after a government meeting. According to Karapetyan,  Azerbaijani apples could be smuggled into Armenia, by small  importers, considering that this product is not listed in the bases.  "We can assume that the supplies were carried out by private  suppliers, as the Armenian legislation allows for the import of fresh  fruit and vegetables up to 50 kg," he explained. On May 5, the State  Service said that, based on the results of the week-long field trips,  and in cooperation with other state structures, the sale of more than  500 kg of apples of Azerbaijani origin was stopped at trade outlets  in Yerevan and a number of regions.