Pambukhchyan, nominated by PM Pashinyan, becomes Armenian emergencies minister

YEREVAN. April 12 (Interfax) - Armenian President Vahagn Khachaturyan has appointed Armen Pambukhchyan to the post of the country's emergency situations minister.

Pambukhchyan most recently held the post of first deputy emergency situations minister.

According to the presidential press service, Pambukhchayn was nominated for this position by Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.

On April 1, the Armenian president dismissed Andranik Piloyan, who holds the title of National Hero and whom a court has arrested on corruption charges, from the post of emergency situations minister.

The Armenian Anticorruption Committee said that, during a preliminary investigation into a criminal case opened following broad-ranging investigative procedures, investigators obtained facts indicating that Emergency Situations Ministry officials committed massive bribery, abuse of office, and massive embezzlement.

Piloyan has been charged with massive bribery, and if found guilty, might face from four to ten years' imprisonment, with or without confiscation of his property.