On 15 April, Mr. Karen Zadoyan, “Commitment to Constructive Dialogue” Project Manager, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association; Mr. Arkadi Sahakyan Governing Board of the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia; Members of the Coalition Board Mr. Gevorg Grigoryan and Mr. Emin Yeritsyan met with Ms Aida Arutyunova, Programme Manager-Global Project-Anti-Corruption for Peaceful and Inclusive Societies Global Center for Public Service Excellence at UNDP, Singapore and Mr. Anga Timilsina, Global Programme Advisor Anti-Corruption Global Center for Public Service Excellence. The meeting was held at the central Office of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association in Yerevan.
ALA Anti-Corruption Experts Ms Mariam Zadoyan, Mr. Narek Yenokyan, Mr. Artyom Mesropyan, Ms Lusine Nalbandian, as well as members of the ALA Board Ms Syuzanna Soghomonyan and Mr. Marat Atovmyan were also present at the meeting.
During the meeting the sides discussed the process of anti-corruption reforms in Armenia and the need to implement them, in particular, the reforms initiated and implemented by the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia, criminalization of illicit enrichment, introduction of the mechanisms for the protection of whistleblowers and other areas.
The participants also discussed issues such as the choice and introduction of the model of the independent anti-corruption body in Armenia, the return of assets, introduction of the institute of beneficial ownership in Armenia and so on.
Karen Zadoyan mentioned that parallel to a number of issues the introduction of the independent anti-corruption body needs to be seriously discussed. And added that a notable expert work had been carried out by the organization. According to Susanna Soghomonyan, both the positive and negative aspects of the anti-corruption independent universal body have been examined and specified.
First of all, it should be noted that if the anti-corruption body is not universal, it may have a problem of independence because, in the case of an autonomous body, there will not be a body provided by the Constitution and will not be appointed by the National Assembly, and so on.
Mr. Anga Timilsina thanked for the information, noting that when he learnt about the international conference in Armenia, he expressed willingness to participate in it and will have their small contribution to its development just in the right time.
Ms Aida Arutyunova, expressed hope that there will be an important professional discussion and will help to understand which model of anti-corruption body for Armenia would be most appropriate.
The participants spoke about the successful and failed experience of the anti-corruption bodies introduced in different countries and the lessons learned, in particular, highlighting the peculiarities of the country in the selection process of the anti-corruption body.
Notably, ALA has also organized a meeting of Prosecutor General Mr. Arthur Davtyan and Minister of Justice of the RA Mr. Artak Zeynalyan with the organizers of the Conference and the international experts which will take place tomorrow, on April 16.
Notably on April 17-18, the Government-Civil Society International Expert Conference: “RA Anti-Corruption Strategy under International Experience” will be held.