Varuzhan Oktanyan: From 2013 to 2016, there was no decrease in  corruption in Armenia

ArmInfo."The results of our research in the field of fighting the government against corruption in 2016 are not very encouraging." There were no special changes or a  reduction in the level of corruption in our country between 2013 and 2016, "the head of the conference" Corruption and Security Problems " anti-corruption center "Transparency International" Varuzhan Oktanyan.

He noted that the decline in corruption in Armenia was observed from  2008 to 2011, and then no more changes occurred in this area. The  expert also noted that Armenia occupies the 33rd position on the  international list on the level of corruption, which, in general, is  not bad. "The Baltic countries, as well as Georgia and Belarus are  located in front of Armenia from the former USSR countries, but it's  bad that we do not have progress, and according to the World Bank  indicators, in 70 countries the indicators are better than  Armenia's," Oktanyan said.

"In addition, our country was included in the" gray list "of the  finance ministers of the European Union countries.Of course, it's  very good that we did not get on the" black list ", as the EU finance  ministers decided that, in cooperation, Armenia will solve all  corruption issues. the fact that we were in the "gray list" is by no  means a positive fact, "the expert stressed.

Oktanyan noted that the main problems of Armenia are the absence of  an independent judicial and legal system, a commission to monitor  corruption risks and sectoral anti-corruption programs. The expert  considers it important to involve the public in the anti-corruption  struggle, as at the moment in this area the Armenian society is  extremely passively. "According to our recent poll, 67% of  respondents said that even if they become aware of corrupt deals,  they will not report to the appropriate authorities, which is a very  high level of disinterested citizens." The offshore scandal involving  Migran Poghosyan, as a result, that he became a deputy, that is why  in our society there is no confidence in law enforcement bodies,  there is no desire to fight corruption, we need to radically change  the current situation, " Oktanian said.

In his turn, Deputy Minister of Justice of Armenia Suren Krmoyan  stated that in reality everything is not so bad. He noted that more  recently, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan in the Special  Investigative Service stated that the fight against corruption is a  national security issue for Armenia. "Over the past 2 years we have  been actively engaged in anti-corruption struggle, new institutions  for fighting corruption have been created, and a number of laws have  been adopted, according to which illegal enrichment has become a  criminal offense." We are also completing the drafting of a  monitoring commission, creating sectoral anti- corruption programs  "Krmoyan stressed, noting that the ultimate goal of the Armenian  government is the final eradication of corruption in the country.

Suren Krmoyan also stated in his interview with journalists that  examples of fighting corruption in Georgia and Singapore are not  suitable for Armenia. "We are fighting hard for corruption in  Singapore, but human rights are being violated in this country, we  want to learn from the international experience all the best and  apply this experience in our country." We criminalized illegal  enrichment, created a new anti-corruption body corruption, and also  created an institute of informers and I am confident that next year  our actions will bear fruit, "the deputy minister stressed. Krmoyan  also noted that we cannot apply the experience of countries such as  Saudi Arabia, when all people suspected of corruption are immediately  detained, as this is a violation of human rights, and we are a  democratic country. "All people who are illegally enriched, and cross  the law, will be punished, regardless of the position they  occupy.Nobody will not get away from deserved punishment," Suren  Krmoyan said.