The Gyumri music college bribery case has been sent to the Anti-Corruption Court. The committee alleges that the former deputy director received 350,000 drams from each of 3 applicants’ families for tuition-free study. The official and 6 others have been charged.
Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee says it has completed its investigation into alleged bribery at Gyumri’s Kara-Murza State Music College and sent the case, with an indictment, to the Anti-Corruption Court. The proceedings began after the committee carried out operational-search activities.
The committee alleges that the former deputy director received 350,000 drams from each of 3 applicants’ families during 2026 in exchange for arranging tuition-free study. The official is charged with receiving a bribe; 6 other people have also been charged, Civic.am said, relaying the committee’s account.
The former deputy director was also deputy chair of the college’s admissions-examination commission. The committee alleges that the official used that authority and the influence that came with it to receive the payments.
It also alleges that 2 college lecturers helped a bribe-giver connect with the recipient, who did not know the giver, and helped establish trust between them.
The committee says the defendants admitted guilt on the charges brought against them and gave confessional statements. It says searches during the investigation led to the seizure of more than 1 million drams that it identifies as bribe money.
Under Armenia’s criminal procedure rules, an accused person is presumed innocent until guilt is established by a court judgment that has entered into legal force. The case materials were sent to the Anti-Corruption Court.
The committee says those arrested include the deputy chair of admissions at Gyumri’s Kara-Murza State Music College, as a preliminary bribery investigation continues.
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