Special Investigative Service to be Dissolved as Parliament Approves Relevant Bill

The National Assembly of Armenia has fully adopted, in the second reading, the package of bills presented by the government concerning the Anti-Corruption Committee, which envisions the dissolution of the Special Investigative Service and the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Committee.

The package of bills was approved during a vote in the National Assembly session with 80 votes in favor, 38 against, and 2 abstentions.

A new investigative body will be created—the Anti-Corruption Committee—whose primary authority will be to organize and carry out pre-trial criminal proceedings related to alleged corruption offenses as outlined by the Criminal Procedure Code of Armenia.

The Special Investigative Service will be dissolved. Until the competition for the positions within the Anti-Corruption Committee is conducted and appointments made, investigators from the Special Investigative Service will temporarily serve as investigators for the Anti-Corruption Committee. This procedure will appoint 20 individuals.

It is noteworthy that the Special Investigative Service was established on November 28, 2007.