The officials` attention, the paper notes, is primarily focused on the procurement process carried out by the Ministry: “The inspections are not related to procurement of ammunition, rather the process of purchasing non-military goods for Armenia`s Armed Forces.”
The newspaper stresses that Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center published Thursday it`s latest Government Defence Anti-Corruption Index, according to which “the Defense Ministry, as well as individual staff members, own a majority shares in trade organizations activities and financial statements of which are not transparent.”
“Initially, several Defense Ministry employees tried to `convince` the inspectors to `overlook` some facts. The word is that the results of more comprehensive check-ups could lead to the resignation of Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan. According to rumours circulating in the Ministry, a thorough probe into the procurement process might reveal that some members of the minister`s family have influenced this process,” Zhoghovurd says.
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