In response to our question “How would you assess the activities of Commission on Ethics of High-Ranking Officials?” MP Tevam Poghosyan asked a counter question, “And what have they done?”
The MP has only one simple opinion about the body which has been operation for four years that it was only to collect a database. “The task is simply to gather information, to enter it, without any authority,” Tevan Poghosyan said and expressed confidence that the information is being collected purposefully. “They should have conducted some investigations for themselves, but they are merely used for the internal interests of the Presidential Office.”
According to him there should be a coordinated approach by the Commission not only to collect and disseminate databases, but be able to implement other initiatives as well. They should have the obligation to investigate everything.
According to Tevan Pogosyan, the Anti-Corruption Council should be independent and have systematic approach powers and not inadequate powers as it currently is. In addition it should be transparent and accountable. “We often have established independent bodies, which have been even more corrupted. We need to adopt new approaches.” And the Parliament could be such precedent. “The Chairman of the Financial and Budgetary Committee is always opposing, and this is correct. We were offering the same for the Control Chamber: to have such a member there as well. The same should be here too. I believe that the Council should have an investigative function. There is such a recommendation. There is a model developed by the Anti-Corruption Coalition led by Karen Zadoyan. It would be perfect if it is applied in the nearest future,” Mr. Poghosyan concluded.
