Anti-Corruption Specialized Court to Begin Operations in Second Half of 2021

According to “Zhoghovurd” daily, the anti-corruption specialized court is set to start operating in the second half of 2021. However, the authorities are still uncertain about how to ensure a smooth transitional phase.

As is known, alongside the amendments to the Judicial Code, approximately four months ago, a list of criminal offenses related to corruption was established by an appendix to the Criminal Code, which will be reviewed by the specialized court. The constitutional package of laws has been initiated by the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, proposing the creation of a specialized anti-corruption court comprised of at least 25 judges, five of whom will exclusively handle cases related to the “Law on the Confiscation of Property of Illegal Origin.”

A specialized appellate anti-corruption court will also be established, consisting of at least 10 judges, and changes are expected in the Court of Cassation, with the criminal chamber operating with 8 judges, while the civil and administrative chambers will operate with 13 judges.

Thus, the initial link of the project involves the establishment of an anti-corruption committee, which will include investigators who have passed an ethics check and who must also undergo professional training. Additionally, a separate unit will be established within the prosecutor's office, whose members will also undergo an ethics check and specialize in this field.

Moreover, the selection of judges will be carried out through an open competition, allowing not only current judges but also individuals who are not judges to apply. Representatives from the three branches of government, as well as a representative of the Human Rights Defender’s office, will be members of the competition council, which will also have designated seats for the public sector. Candidates for judges will undergo an ethics check by the anti-corruption commission.

Compared to other judges, those in the specialized anti-corruption court will be offered a higher salary. Not everyone can become a candidate for anti-corruption court judge, as there are specific restrictions. For instance, a judge will be ineligible to be appointed to the anti-corruption court if the European Court of Human Rights has found a violation involving that specific judge's judicial act,” the newspaper reports.