“If we have a clear vision of the fight against corruption, which will be carried out by one universal body specialized in all aspects of the fight against corruption and political will, we will have a completely different picture, and the fight against corruption will have coordinated and specialized nature” – Mr. Gevorg Grigoryan, Member of the Coalition Governing Board told in the interview with Iravaban.net.

– At what stage is the fight against corruption today?

– In my opinion, we do not have any substantial changes to this issue yet, because the fight against corruption has a direct character against specific individuals and political parties. The proof of not having significant changes is that, for example, the RA Minister of Health frequently makes statements on social networks that deal with corruption, but the RA Deputy Health Minister is accused of corruption.

– What problems will solve a single universal anti-corruption body?

– First and foremost, in the case of having a single universal anti-corruption body, the latter has a wider and more clearly defined framework of responsibility. In addition, it works more efficiently, as it is easier to coordinate the work of one body. In this case, the level of integrity and transparency of the body rises, and most importantly, in case of having a single universal anti-corruption body, the unhealthy competition between the anti-corruption bodies will be excluded.

 – How is the issue of unhealthy competition solved?

While being a universal anti-corruption body, the latter implements one specific function, which is the anti-corruption function. Whereas in the case of a decentralized model, almost all the departments often “seeking for glory” begin to deal with fight against corruption, shoveling their main obligations to the back burner. Such cases have already emerged in post-revolutionary Armenia when employees of the National Security Service, being in competition with State Control Service employees, have accused some of its employees of corruption.

 – Do you think that in the examples you mentioned the fight against corruption has been failed, because there were several bodies fighting corruption simultaneously and it is possible to avoid it, if we have one law enforcement and one preventive anti-corruption body?

– No, because the risk of unhealthy competition is present in the case of any decentralized or separated model. For example, if we have two anti-corruption bodies, one of which deals with the disclosure of corruption-related crimes, and the other by preventing corruption, then, in case of a failure to fight corruption in the country, none of the bodies will accept their guilt and will reprove the other body. As a result, it will be difficult to understand why the country ticks over in the fight against corruption, and whether this is the result of the fact that the body dealing with corruption offenses or the corruption prevention body has worked poorly.