On 22 November, the Anti-Corruption School for Young Leaders hosted Ms Susanne Soghomonyan, the Anti-Corruption Expert, Member of Board of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association.
The topic of the lecture was related to the introduction of the anti-corruption compliance program in Armenia and the feasibility of its implementation, in the light of the best international practice.
According to S.Soghomonyan, draft Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia has been elaborated and, in case of its adoption, for the first time in Armenia, the institute of criminal liability for legal persons will be introduced. According to Article 129 of the draft, the criminal liability of a legal person is excluded if it has undertaken all necessary and sufficient measures to prevent the crime committed by persons envisaged in part 1 of Article 128 of the Code, but there was no real possibility of preventing the crime. Ms Soghomonyan mentioned that the international experience considers the anti-corruption compliance program as the “necessary and sufficient” means. And from this point of view, it is also beneficial for businesses to introduce the program, to be free from corruption and to avoid criminal liability.
The best international experience of the Anti-Corruption Compliance Program was introduced to the attention of the participants as well. The lecture was followed by an interesting and thorough discussion.
S. Soghomonyan also added that “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project which is implemented by The “Center for International Private Enterprise” (CIPE), the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO (ALA), the “Corporate Governance Center” (CGC), and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” (YerCCI), was launched in Armenia on 1 October, 2018. The main objective of the project is to combat corruption in the business sector, to introduce the Anti-Corruption Compliance Standards within the Armenian business community, which will contribute to dissemination of corporate governance and ethical values in Armenia.
This material has been prepared in the scope of the “Armenia: Promoting Anti-Corruption Conduct and Reforms” Project implemented by the “Center for International Private Enterprise”, the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Corporate Governance Center” NGO and the “Yerevan Chamber of Commerce and Industry” with financial support of the National Endowment for Democracy. The project is implemented as a co-financing to the “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” action implemented with the financial support of the European Union by a Consortium comprising the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO, the “Armenian Center for Democratic Education-CIVITAS” NGO, the “International Center for Human Development” NGO, the “SME Cooperation Association” NGO, the Union of Communities of Armenia, as well as “Agora Central Europe” NGO (Czech Republic). The contents of this material are the sole responsibility of the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” NGO and can in no way be taken to reflect the views of the National Endowment for Democracy and the European Union.