On July 22, 2015 the Media Center hosted a discussion “How is the state of corruption in Armenia and in EU Eastern partnership countries?” The speakers Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Executive Director of Transparency International Anticorruption Center (TIAC) and Marat Atovmyan, Board Member of Armenian Young Lawyers Association addressed “The State of Corruption: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine” regional report, produced by the advocacy and research group of TI Secretariat, which was presented on July 2, 2015. It is comparative analysis of National Integrity Systems (NIS) in 5 Eastern Partnership countries (except Belarus), by presenting issues of common concern across the region and the key recommendations to improve the state of corruption in those countries.

NIS assessments on Armenia were carried out by TIAC three times, and the research reports were published in 2004, 2013 and 2015. The latest study, "National Integrity System Assessment Armenia 2014" was presented on April 30, 2015. “The State of Corruption: Armenia, Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine” report shows the compact findings of the research made by TI 5 national chapters, TI Azerbaijan, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine, including that of Armenia - TIAC (p. 12-14). The regional report comprising NIS findings of 5 Eastern Partnership countries was published for the first time. TI secretary identified 3 key findings common to all 5 countries of the region based on the reports made by the respective TI chapters:

  • Limited checks and balances on executive power
  • Politicized and ineffective judiciaries
  • Restrictions on civil society.