Corruption probe launched into Armenian satellite project

Corruption probe launched into Armenian satellite project

An image from Armenia's ArmSat-1 satellite. / Satlantis

By bne IntelliNews November 27, 2024

Armenian authorities have launched a corruption investigation into the ArmSat-1 satellite project, citing potential financial mismanagement tied to its May 2022 launch.

With $7mn invested and a second satellite launched in 2023, the investigation casts uncertainty over Armenia’s space ambitions.

Developed in partnership with Spanish firm Satlantis, the satellite was launched via a SpaceX rocket from Florida, with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan touting its potential for border control, disaster management and geological research. However, its effectiveness and the project’s financial transparency are now under scrutiny.

Reports suggest that the multi-million-dollar initiative has underperformed, triggering the Anti-Corruption Committee’s investigation. Prosecutors confirmed the probe but withheld specifics, citing state security concerns.

Minister of High-Tech Industry Mkhitar Hayrapetyan defended ArmSat-1, sharing imagery from the satellite, while his deputy, Gevorg Mantashyan, disputed claims of misused data. The project began under former high-tech minister and current President Vahagn Khachaturyan, whose office declined to comment.

#Armenia #satellite #Satlantis #space

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