Preliminary investigation of the criminal proceeding on apparent abuse of official position committed by the former director of Byurakan Observatory after V. Hambardzumyan, was completed in General Department for Investigation of Particularly Important Cases of the RA Investigative Committee.

Particularly, in the course of preliminary investigation factual data were obtained on the allegation that the former director of Byurakan Observatory after V. Hambardzumyan, ignoring the requirement of the law, pursuant to which a person appointed to a position in the executive body of a state organization may not hold any other position or perform any other paid work, except for scientific, pedagogical and creative work, on August 30, 2013 registering as an individual entrepreneur and using the authority and recognition stemming from his position as a director, signed contracts with the company for the implementation of scientific and technical cooperation works.

During the term of the contracts, the company transferred 266 million 857 thousand 762 AMD to the private enterprise, from which during 2013-2024 the former director of Byurakan Observatory received an income of 78 million 511 thousand 385 AMD, disposing of it for his own needs.

Public criminal prosecution was initiated against the former director according to the Points 2 and 5 of the Part 2 of the Article 441 of RA Criminal Code.

In the course of preliminary investigation 19 million AMD of the damage caused has been recovered. A ban has been imposed to the latter's movable and immovable properties in the amount of the rest of the damage.

The criminal proceeding with the bill of indictment was sent to the prosecutor.