On 21 May, a unified e-platform www.azdararir.am for whistleblowing was launched.
Mr. Suren Krmoyan, Advisor to the RA Deputy Prime Minister, read the welcoming speech of the Deputy Prime Minister, noting that launching the platform is an important step towards meeting the objectives of the government program. “Velvet revolution eradicated the systemic corruption, and today the government is facing a new challenge to create such institutions and form a civil consciousness that will prevent any manifestation of corruption. Therefore, the actions of the government will focus on the results of the fight against corruption, the strengthening of the institutional system and the provision of proper tools to the anti-corruption bodies,” the Advisor to the Deputy Prime Minister quoted, adding that the use of modern and innovative technologies is crucial.
Mr. Artak Zeynalyan, the RA Minister of Justice thanked the participants for attending the event and contributing to the implementation of anti-corruption policy in their presence. According to Artak Zeynalyan, the government is well aware of the dangers of corruption and the irreversible impact on the rule of law, human rights protection and economic development, adding that everyone practically witnessed the consequences of the negative impact of corruption. “Combining the strategic and institutional steps is the key to combating corruption with a systematic approach. In this context, I attach great importance to the launch of the unified electronic platform for alarm, “Artak Zeynalyan noted, adding that through the platform, a person has an opportunity to present anonymous crime report, which will enable to transfer exposing the corruption crimes to a qualitatively new stage.
The Minister assured that the Government, in the person of the Ministry of Justice, would guarantee anonymity through the coding of the reporting person’s Internet Protocol address (IP), and the Prosecutor’s Office will be the guarantor of the evaluation and verification of the content of the report.
Mr. Armen Nikoghosyan, Senior Prosecutor of the Prosecutor General’s Office, touched upon the functions and powers of the Prosecutor’s office in relation of the functioning of the platform, noting that the launch of the platform www.azdararir.am is an extremely important step in ensuring the institutional framework for the fight against corruption and prevention of corruption occurrences.
In the interview with Irvaban.net, Mr. Arkadi Sahakyan, Chairman of the Governing Board of the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia noted that it is a pleasant fact as the Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia three years ago had launched Bizprotect.am website, which had serious success, which became a prototype for www.azdararir.am. “It is really important that this tool was launched and created as a result of serious cooperation with the public sector, which, I hope, will provide the transparent approach that we expect,” he said.
“This was an important initiative that the Armenian Lawyers’ Association and the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia offered in the framework of the Anti-Corruption Reform Roadmap during the former authorities and in the past two years the law on whistleblowing system was adopted and in addition the electronic platform has been launched,” Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association said in an interview with us.. He also noted that this is an important tool for the disclosure of corruption crimes. According to him, there are some methodological shortcomings and the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia and the Armenian Lawyers’ Association will soon present recommendations to make it more efficient.
Ms Sylvie Bossoutrot, the Country Manager of the World Bank for Armenia, also highlighted the launch of the platform and noted that Armenia was successful in fighting corruption in the aftermath of the non-violent, velvet revolution. “This platform will be fully available to the public. It will record the reports on possible corruption crimes and transfer them to the relevant body, which in case of presence of the grounds will initiate proceedings,” Sylvie Bossoutrot said.
During the event, Ms Arpi Sargsyan, representative of the Ministry of Justice presented the possibilities of using the electronic platform, the videos on the e-platform and guarantees for the protection of the reporting persons were presented as well.
