On July 19 2018, the mission headed by Paola Severino, the current OSCE Head’s Special Representative on Combating Corruption and Italy’s former Minister of Justice, had a meeting with President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA) Karen Zadoyan and some representatives from the association.
Karen Zadoyan presented to the mission a number of anti-corruption reforms that were initiated by the Armenian Lawyers’ Association and the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia and later implemented by the government in Armenia during the past two years, including: criminalization of illicit enrichment, adoption of laws on whistleblowers’ system and the independent anti-corruption agency, introduction of the institution of beneficial owners in public procurement, etc. In institutionalizing fight against corruption, the President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association emphasized the establishment of a universal independent anti-corruption agency in Armenia, one that would be provided with educational, preventive, and pre-investigation, including investigative and intelligence functions. Karen Zadoyan also noted that two criminal cases had just been initiated based on the corpus delicti of illicit enrichment.
Ms. Severino attached great importance to the combating corruption and ALA’s consistent actions in this field. Having in mind Italy’s experience in this field, Ms. Severino found the establishment of a universal independent anti-corruption agency in Armenia particularly important among the above-mentioned reforms.
