What Gifts Officials Cannot Accept: Draft Law

Officials and their related persons should not accept gifts that may influence the decision-making of official duties. A draft law amending the 'Public Service Law' was presented in the National Assembly of Armenia.

Deputy Justice Minister Yeranuhi Tumanyants announced that only gifts received within the framework of official visits or events will be permissible.

If the value of such a gift exceeds 20,000 drams, it must be registered in a special register. If it exceeds 60,000 drams, it is considered state or communal property. The value is determined based on reasonable market prices.

The Minister of Justice and the Deputy Minister have been proposed by the Civil Contract party as candidates for members of the Supreme Judicial Council.

If a state employee receives a gift in connection with the performance of their official duties (i.e., one that may exert influence), they must report it to the appropriate ethics bodies within 5 days. In the event of a negative conclusion by these bodies, the official must return the gift to the giver.

The official is also obliged to act similarly with respect to gifts received by related persons. Related persons include close relatives (spouses, children, parents, siblings, cousins, grandparents, and grandchildren), godchildren, godfathers and godmothers, as well as individuals with shared economic interests and party members.

Furthermore, it is clarified how an official should behave in cases of conflict of personal and official interests (for their benefit and that of related persons); they must inform the relevant authorities of the conflict of interest and, if possible, assign the resolution of the matter to another official.

The list of officials required to submit declarations is being expanded; this includes the heads of state and community organizations and companies in which the state or community has a participation rate of 50 percent or more.