From 2024, Two Investigation Bodies Will Remain: The Investigative Committee and the Anti-Corruption Committee

The National Assembly has approved a legislative initiative that will establish two bodies for pre-trial investigation in the Republic of Armenia starting January 1, 2024. According to this initiative, pre-trial investigations will only be conducted by the Investigative Committee and the Anti-Corruption Committee, while the investigatory divisions of the State Revenue Committee and the National Security Service will cease their operations.

As reported by the Ministry of Justice, the change will be implemented gradually. The investigative department of the State Revenue Committee will continue to operate until January 1, 2023, and the investigative department of the National Security Service will function until January 1, 2024.

To ensure impartial investigation of cases in the presence of two investigative bodies, additional guarantees have been proposed, including oversight by a senior prosecutor, and, in exceptional cases, a transfer of the case to another body by the Prosecutor General as a last resort.

Within the framework of the changes to the laws, guarantees have been provided for the investigators of the terminating investigative bodies. Specifically, they will have the opportunity to transfer to the Investigative Committee, and in this case, their previous work experience as investigators will be accounted for as experience in holding a position within the Investigative Committee.

Under the conditions proposed by the government, the aim is to ensure the unity of the principles governing the activities of the pre-trial investigation bodies and to systematize their work.