On 31 March, 2020, the regular lecture of the distance learning course of the 5th stream of the Anti-Corruption School of Young Leaders took place. The topic of the training was, “International Experience; Presentation of Stories of Successful Countries, Independent Anti-Corruption Bodies”. The speaker was Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, Coordinator of the Secretariat of the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia.
Karen Zadoyan presented the anti-corruption provisions in the international documents, referring to Articles 6 and 36 of the UN Convention against Corruption, Article 20 of the Criminal Law Convention on Corruption of the Council of Europe and the Jakarta Principles. He noted the importance of anti-corruption standards, and presented the experience of successful countries in the fight against corruption as well: particularly in Lithuania, Latvia, Hong Kong and Singapore.
Speaking about the miracle of Singapore, the lecturer mentioned that the intolerance of the society is one of the most effective means in the fight against corruption. The above was substantiated by the following example: “In Singapore, the Minister of National Development, Teh Cheang Wan , was accused of bribery and the Prime Minister’s closeness to him did not absolve him of responsibility. The latter was arrested, and the request to meet with the Prime Minister was rejected, after which Teh Cheang Wan committed suicide, and his wife and daughter left Singapore, despite the closeness of the families.”
The students presented the tasks assigned to them during the previous course, then received the next group assignment issuing from the topic.