Anti-Corruption Program Cannot Be Adopted in This Manner: Lawyer

According to lawyer Norair Norikyan, Armenia's anti-corruption strategy and the draft program of actions for its implementation from 2019 to 2022 need to be seriously reconsidered.

The lawyer wrote on his Facebook page:

“I found time to study the draft of Armenia's anti-corruption strategy and the program of actions for its implementation from 2019 to 2022, which is posted on www.e-draft.am.

I believe that this document does not meet the criteria and requirements declared for combating corruption in the coming years.

In essence, we are dealing with a declarative document that is dominated by wishes, perceptions, and expectations, while it should have included a detailed analysis of sectoral issues related to corruption, particularly in education, healthcare, police, judicial, and penitentiary systems, and so on.

The draft states that the establishment of the “Corruption Prevention Commission” is urgent, yet this is a legal requirement that should have been created back in May 2018.

It is mentioned that a single investigative body will be created to replace the existing Investigative Committee of Armenia, the Special Investigative Service, the National Security Service, as well as the investigative department of the State Revenue Committee, justifying that according to the study of international experience, the effectiveness of investigating corruption crimes can only be guaranteed if this function is reserved for a single body.

Against the backdrop of such declarative aspirations, the implementation of an electronic admission system for kindergartens and the establishment of several other websites stands out.

However, it seems that the most important message of the program is recorded right in the first sentence, where it is boldly stated that in recent years, the Armenian government has consistently fought against corruption, recognizing anti-corruption efforts as one of its key directions.

What do you mean by recent years?

...This program cannot be adopted in this manner and must be seriously reconsidered.”