Today, the participants of the first meeting of the Public Council at the Minister of Justice discussed th legislative package aimed at large scale fight against corruption, which specifically referred to the creation of an independent anti-corruption body, criminalization of illicit enrichment and introduction of the institute of identification of real owners in the public procurement system.
Acting Justice Minister Arpine Hovhannisyan thanked the President of the Armenian lawyers’ Association Karen Zadoyan for significant support in the development of this legislative package. She said that during the development of the package the studies of Transparency International (offices operating in Armenia as well as in other countries) were taken into account as well.
Speaking about the establishment of the independent anti-corruption body, Arpine Hovhannisyan noted that the three models had been studied: The Preventive Model (having educational and preventive powers); Universal Model (with educational, preventive and investigative powers) and Law Enforcement Model (powers are carried out by law enforcement authorities).
Acting Minister said that they are considering the first two models. One of the participants of the session human rights activists Artur Sakunts asked why two models are presented and in case where the Universal Model is more comprehensive and has more powers, why not present this model only. Arpine Hovhannisyan said that under the instruction of the Government to the models that do not have significant advantages over each other shall be presented.
However, Karen Zadoyan made an important observation referring to the Universal Model. He said that it as compared with the Preventive Model has three major advantages: mobilization of resources, three wings that work in harmony under one structure and most importantly, avoid unhealthy interdepartmental competition.
Karen Zadoyan said that the independent anti-corruption body should have maximum independence and shall demand additional administrative and financial resources, the lack of which shall result in ineffective fight against corruption and once again become the cause of public disappointment.
During the session the issues of criminalization of illicit enrichment and introduction of the institute of identification of real owners in the public procurement system were discussed as well.
The Council approved all the listed above drafts, which shall be presented to the upcoming session of the Anti-Corruption Council.
