Administrative Liability for Violating Gift Acceptance Restrictions

The National Assembly discussed the proposed amendments and changes to the "Public Service Law" and several other laws in its second reading. The Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia, Arpine Sargsyan, mentioned that the adoption of the project is necessitated by the need to improve existing legal solutions regarding conflicts of interest for public officials and public service employees, the incompatibility of demands, and the institution of gift acceptance, as well as the necessity to fulfill the international obligations undertaken by Armenia.

In the case of violations of gift acceptance restrictions, public officials and civil servants will be subject to administrative liability. "The package of draft laws stipulates that ceremonial gifts presented by foreign states, international organizations, or other individuals in a public manner are not subject to registration. Initially, all gifts that, according to the draft law, must be registered were subject to registration; however, considering the component of publicity in such events and to avoid overburdening our relevant officials, it is proposed that ceremonial gifts in this case will not be subject to registration," Sargsyan stated.

It is also proposed to change the circle of related persons, removing the following individuals: grandfather, grandmother, grandson, aunt, uncle, great-uncle, great-aunt, and the spouses of the public officials' siblings' children, as well as the children of the public official's maternal and paternal aunts and uncles.