Larisa Alaverdyan, the first Ombudsman of the RA participated in anti-corruption strategy works, she was included in the Anti-Corruption Council, but refused to participate in it because of a simple reason. “I do not think that such a committee, where the representatives of the power is comprises the majority and has an unknown level of responsibility, will be effective in our country. I always assessed so,” Mrs. Alaverdyan said.
Notably the Council consists of the RA Prime Minister (The Chairman of the Council), Minister –Chief of Staff of the Government, Minister of Justice, Minister of Finance, Prosecutor General, Chairman of the Ethics Commission of High ranking Officials, as well as one representative from each opposition party respectively, the Chairman of the RA Public Council, one representative of the Union of Communities of the RA, and two representatives of Civil Society organizations.
“I cannot imagine it makes sense to create such committees where the overwhelming majority is representatives of the power, the government members, which have proved its inability to fight corruption,” Mrs. Alaverdyan said and added, “We started talking about the fight against corruption since 1998. I talked to two times in the international arena. But I refused to do it for the third time because those two years showed that there was no progress. I think that the stagnant state is the evidence that those who know the secret, the place of corruption, are just those who are involved in the corruption,” the first Human Rights defender said.
He was surprise about the behavior of international organizations as well. “I am surprised with the international institutions as well. Isn’t it clear that quite different approaches should have been adopted during these years? In that sense, I doubt either their knowledge about behavior towards the countries like our country, or the circumstance that they have absolutely no interest in the case,” she said.
In conclusion Mrs. Alaverdyan addressed to the competent authorities, “If we see that it does not work for us, why should it be of continuous nature, or whether it is sufficient to involve one or two representatives of non-governmental organizations or opposition.”
According to Larisa Alaverdyan, in order to work effectively, the Council should have more clearly defined responsibilities and powers and its opinions shall not be of advisory character only.
