The Anti-Corruption Council exists for already one year. MP Edmon Marukyan said at today’s session of the NA and asking a question to the Prime Minister, he mentioned that the Council had published a 19-page report during the year. “It is well known that the Council has conducted an intense struggle against corruption. But look what’s written here, there is not any significant result. Thus, we have introduction of the electronic system, simplification of licensing procedures, integrity trainings for the pupils, students and NGOs, to enable them to conduct anti-corruption monitoring in future. There is nothing more. Mr. Prime-Minister, this is already one year that the Council has been established, a sum of 750 thousand USD was received from USAID and actually we do not see any significant steps, the MP said.”
Arpine Hovhannisyan, the RA Minister of Justice answered the question. First she urged the MP to set aside the irony and skepticism, as well as some originally distrusting formulations and added that the Council has just developed the strategy, the new programs are discussed and soon they will start to work. “Actually just at this moment really serious steps are being implemented. I shall give just one example. I am talking about the changes in the RA law on Administrative Violations and the RA law on Public Services. Specifically there were complaints that the officials provide inaccurate or false data. We have submitted a draft to administrative responsibility,” the Minister said and added that discussion on the necessity of criminal responsibility is also expected.
As for 750 thousand USD, the Minister said to Iravaban.net that it was not transferred to the Government, but just after receiving it was directed for the involvement of independent expert, that is for their wages.
