Edmon Marukyan criticizes the inactivity of Anti-Corruption Council. In the interview with Iravaban.net, the deputy of the National Assembly told he had understood from the activity report that there are no mechanisms to decrease corruption. “The activities of this body still have imitation character. I want to note that I’ve seen nothing but imitation. If you read the report you will see that there have been no real steps directed to the creation of equal chances, reduction of monopolies, increase of the economic opportunities,” he mentioned.
The MP also noted that nothing is said about introduction of the conflict of interests’ policy as well. “This means that our officials can continue claiming that they have nothing to do with this or that. It belongs to my relative. And this is when there are many specific cases of conflict of interests. Definitely there are corruption risks here. However no legislative steps are undertaken in this regard. The people receive a salary of several hundred thousand drams and at the same time submit declaration on several million. Notably, nobody is concerned or interested in this issue.”
Speaking about the council members, especially the circumstance that it is headed by the Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, and the involvement of other high officials in the work of the Council, Mr. Marukyan said, “The representatives of the Executive Power shall not be included in the Anti-Corruption Council. The issue whether there are facts that they are involved in different corruption processes or not is an issue of secondary importance. The primary objective is to have a reliable Council. Participation of the Executive Power in it should be excluded, which has not been done,” Mr. Marukyan said.
Edmon Marukyan also mentioned that “Bright Armenia” Party which he leads is ready to cooperate with the independent institutions fighting against corruption.
We should mention that the most active and influential one among such institutions is the CSOs Anti-Corruption Coalition, which joins over 70 CSOs.
