The features of corruption occurrences and manifestations need to be proved. Advocate Artur Sukiasyan, member of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, considers that the new body for the fight against corruption should have a large staff and wide range of powers in order to effectively fight against corruption.
Corruption is a major crime and phenomenon, so only the abstract speeches, and developing programs shall not help. There should be a possibility to obtain evidence,” Mr Sukiasyan says.
He believes that the body should have a rapid response team, which will be able to involve people in its activities. “I also consider that the staff should have and experts of analysis, which will conduct studies, raise issues, recommend legislative reforms. Such reforms should lead to reduction of corruption occurrences, because I believe that it is not correct to fight against corruption merely by punishing. It is necessary to raise the reasons.”
Artur Sukiasyan also expressed confidence that the need to establish such a body has emerged. “Practice shows that simply developing a Commission and programs does not provide results,” said the lawyer.
He also stressed that the draft that is currently circulated and which simply changes the name of the Commission on Ethics of High-Ranking Officials, expands the scope of powers, but at the same time shall have the same staff, cannot effectively fight against this blemish.
