List of Declarants Reviewed by the Ministry of Justice

The Ministry of Justice has presented to the public a draft law for amendments to the "Public Service Law" and the "Constitutional Law on Electoral Code," proposing to expand the category of declarants, introduce an expense declaration institute, clarify the types of property subject to declaration, revise the information required when declaring property, and refine the data regarding loans and credits obtained by public officials.

Thus, the draft revises the list of declarants. It is proposed to extend the obligation to declare property to members of community councils and secretaries of administrations in communities with populations of 15,000 or more. At the same time, it is suggested that a declaration requirement be established for candidates participating in elections for the National Assembly of Armenia, community leaders, members of community councils, and council members in Yerevan, as well as the political parties (coalitions of parties) participating in elections.

To facilitate the disclosure of financial resources held by public officials both domestically and abroad, the draft proposes a requirement for the public official to grant a power of attorney to the authorized body to request the relevant information in their name. The template for this power of attorney will be determined by the Government of Armenia. This regulation will save resources for the authorized body while ensuring its access to reliable information.

During property declaration, the draft imposes a duty on declarants to also present information about properties located abroad. Furthermore, it suggests the requirement for public officials to declare property they actually possess, including real estate, vehicles, and valuable items, which will allow for the resolution of the aforementioned issues in declarations.

It is also proposed to expand the scope of information presented during property declaration, which will include details regarding the value of transactions for real estate, vehicles, and securities, as well as requiring relevant information about bank deposits and accounts.

The draft recommends reducing the monetary threshold established for valuable property by law. It also proposes the introduction of an expense declaration institute, as well as defining the types of expenses subject to declaration and the scope of information regarding these expenses. This will allow the authorized body to obtain comprehensive information about the property status of declarant public officials, aiding in the detection of possible violations.

It is suggested to differentiate between certain types of declarable incomes, specifically received loans and credits, due to their substantive differences. The draft proposes reducing the monetary threshold established under Article 41, Part 9 of the Law. With these changes, the objective is to enhance the declaration institution, ensuring transparency in the activities of declarant public officials. The reviewed scope of individuals obligated to submit declarations will provide comprehensive information regarding the property status of declarant public officials, serving as an effective tool for uncovering possible violations.