Special Investigative Service to Be Dissolved: Rustam Badasyan

The Special Investigative Service in Armenia is set to be dissolved, with 20 investigators temporarily appointed as inspectors of the newly established Anti-Corruption Committee. This was stated by the Minister of Justice, Rustam Badasyan, during a session of the National Assembly's Permanent Committee on State and Legal Affairs, where he presented changes to the Anti-Corruption Committee law and related legislation, which had been amended since its first reading.

“After discussions with law enforcement agencies, it has been decided to dissolve the Special Investigative Service. In order to facilitate the investigation of corruption crimes and the distribution of cases, the draft states that until the completion of the competition for the staff of the Anti-Corruption Committee and their appointment to positions, the investigators of the Special Investigative Service will be temporarily appointed as inspectors of the Anti-Corruption Committee. Through this procedure, 20 individuals will be appointed,” said Badasyan.

After the establishment of competitive procedures, investigators from the Special Investigative Service will need to participate in the competition on equal terms with other candidates. It is expected that the remaining investigators from the Special Investigative Service will occupy positions in other investigative agencies.

The formation of the Anti-Corruption Committee is anticipated to occur by the beginning of October. Regarding other amendments in the draft, Badasyan noted that in order to avoid potential issues related to the status of individuals performing operational investigative functions, a separate type of service has been established, namely, the service within the Anti-Corruption Committee. The groups of positions for the committee's employees and the requirements for those positions have been revised.

The government will appoint candidates from a pool of three suggested by the competitive council of the Anti-Corruption Committee, instead of the previously established Prime Minister. The draft with amendments received a positive conclusion and will be discussed in the National Assembly's plenary session.