According to the press release disseminated by the Government of Armenia on February 23, 2015 the Prime Minister, received USAID Acting Assistant Administrator Susan Fritz said that a new prime minister-headed council had been set up to develop effective steps against corruption in an open and transparent manner. The head of government pointed out that the new council would include representatives from civil society and parliamentary factions representing the opposition. In his interview to Radio Liberty Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Executive Director of Transparency International Anticorruption Center considered the press release “improper,” by detailing that in order to be included in the new Council the NGOs should participate in a competition, which had not been held yet.

Radio Liberty goes on to note, “Even if there is competition TIAC is likely not to participate”, said the country’s leading anti-graft watchdog. “The anticorruption council is an advisory body, i.e. it is not independent and it did not aspire to decide serious issues. It should give advice to the Government, Hoktanyan said.

Some other leading NGOs besides TIAC also refuse to participate in the work of the new council.”

For details visit Radio Liberty in Armenian.