Structural Changes Implemented in the Prosecutor's Office

Based on the principles, goals, and objectives discussed and agreed upon at the meeting of the Prosecutor's Office Collegium, Armenia's Chief Prosecutor Artur Davtyan has signed relevant orders regarding the new structure of professional subdivisions of the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia, the corresponding amendments to its charter, staffing plan, as well as the approval of the functions of the subdivisions and prosecutors.

Accordingly, in the new structure of the professional subdivisions of the Prosecutor General's Office, instead of the previous 9 departments, 12 have been created, some of which, as before, are specialized according to the constitutional functions of the prosecutor's office, while others are specialized according to types of crimes.

As a result, the following specialized departments will operate in the Prosecutor General's Office: 1. Department for Corruption Crimes; 2. Department for Crimes Against the Person; 3. Department for Crimes Against Economic Activity; 4. Department for Crimes Against Property; 5. Department for Crimes Against Public Security; 6. Department for Crimes Against Population Health; 7. Department for Supervising the Legality of Pre-Trial Proceedings in the Special Investigative Service of Armenia; 8. Department for Supervising the Legality of Pre-Trial Proceedings in the National Security Service of Armenia; 9. Department for Supervising the Legality of Applying Punishments and Other Coercive Measures; 10. Department for Protection of State Interests; 11. Department for Organizational, Supervisory, and Legal Support; 12. Department for International Legal Cooperation.

This structural model is driven by the need for the most effective implementation of the prosecutor's powers, clearer definition of the functions assigned to the subdivisions of the prosecutor's office, deepening the specialization of subdivisions according to crime types, and improving the quality of prosecutorial supervision. The objective is to best serve the unified criminal policy in combating crime, which is driven by the imperative to address contemporary challenges facing the Republic in this area.

Chief Prosecutor Artur Davtyan has also signed orders to appoint heads of the newly established structural subdivisions of the Prosecutor General's Office. As a result, 1. Justice Counsel of the Second Class Arsen Simonyan has been transferred and appointed as the head of the Department for Crimes Against Economic Activity; 2. Justice Counsel of the Second Class Artur Chakhoyan has been transferred and appointed as the head of the Department for Corruption Crimes; 3. Justice Counsel of the First Class Artak Harutyunyan has been transferred and appointed as the head of the Department for Crimes Against the Person; 4. Justice Counsel of the First Class Armen Afandyan has been transferred and appointed as the head of the Department for Crimes Against Property; 5. Justice Counsel of the First Class Karen Bisharyan has been transferred and appointed as the head of the Department for Crimes Against Public Security; 6. Justice Counsel of the First Class Raffi Aslanyan has been transferred and appointed as the head of the Department for Crimes Against Population Health; 7. Justice Counsel of the Second Class Arsen Martirosyan has been transferred and appointed as the head of the Department for Supervising the Legality of Pre-Trial Proceedings in the Special Investigative Service of Armenia; 8. Justice Counsel of the Second Class Armen Panosyan has been transferred and appointed as the head of the Department for Supervising the Legality of Pre-Trial Proceedings in the National Security Service of Armenia.

At the initiative of Chief Prosecutor Artur Davtyan, a meeting of the Prosecutor's Office Collegium was convened and held, during which issues were discussed regarding organizing the normal activities of the Prosecutor's Office after the structural and personnel changes and adapting the system as quickly as possible to these changes.

The Chief Prosecutor congratulated the newly appointed heads of departments, noting that these changes mark the beginning of new systemic reforms aimed at reinforcing the rule of law in Armenia, ensuring the most effective and unified implementation of prosecutorial functions during pre-trial and judicial proceedings, and ensuring harmony between the rights of participants in the criminal proceedings, as well as state, public, and private interests.

The Chief Prosecutor instructed that the redistribution process of criminal cases under supervision be conducted as soon as possible and without causing difficulties for proceedings. Special emphasis was placed on the specialization of prosecutors according to types of crimes, as well as the development of the capabilities of structural subdivisions aimed at revealing trends in criminal activity and uncovering regularities.