By a governmental decree, issued on February 19, 2015, it was decided to set up anticorruption bodies. Formally the government decided to undertake responsibility for pursuing anticorruption policy. The institutional system includes three components: an anticorruption council, which is an advisory agency, anticorruption projects monitoring department under RA Government that should serve as secretary for the council, and expert commission to conduct analysis. Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Executive Director of Transparency International Anticorruption Center talked with CivilNet on effectiveness of those institutions in fight against corruption. In his opinion two issues should be viewed in that context: political will and resources. Corruption might be reduced by regime change or by the conscience of taking required steps by the ruling elite to improve the situation.

Anticorruption council established in 2004 failed to work effectively. It is likely that the current council will work the same way, in view of the statesmen included in anticorruption council that are notorious in public for being engaged in corruption. We are losing competitive edge. It is impossible to continue working the same way.

By stopping international organizations’ financial flows to Armenia for improving government effectiveness and by becoming a member of EEU we have to take serious steps to fight corruption. It may seem paradoxical but Armenia’s degree of freedom may increase under those conditions. Implementation of the third anticorruption strategy, the concept of which was developed also by TIAC, may lead to eradicating administrative, low level corruption. Certain results may be achieved in case of demonopolization, and mere reduction of corruption risks for increasing economic effectiveness.