News

The Republic of Armenia Draft Law on Public Service, authored by the Armenian Government and adopted in its first reading on June 24, 2010, is subject to amendments. Considering this legislative initiative as an important positive step toward adoption of a unified system of public service concept in Armenia and more effective conflict of interest regulation in this sector, Transparency International Anti-corruption Center set out its remarks and suggestions on Chapter 6, "Ethics for Public Servants."

Lena Nazaryan, Project Assistant of Transparency international Anti-corruption Center, attended Transparency International Summer School on Integrity in Vilnius from July 5 to 9, 2010. The school brought together over 65 young professionals from Armenia, Belarus, Estonia, Georgia, Kosovo, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Russia, Ukraine and United States of America to address the subject of corruption and fighting it.

Released on June 29, 2010 by Freedom House, Nations in Transit 2010 studied democratic development in 29 countries from Central Europe to Eurasia. Armenia with a score of 5.39 is a semi-consolidated authoritarian regime. It fails to meet even the minimum standards of electoral democracy and efforts to combat widespread corruption are usually politically motivated.

Project Manager Sona Ayvazyan, together with Project Coordinators Levon Barseghyan and Artur Sakunts presented the one and half year activity of Yerevan, Shirak Marz and Lori Marz Anti-corruption Advocacy and Assistance Centers during a press conference, convened at "Friday" Club on June 25, 2010. The "Establishment and Operation of AACs in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor" project by Transparency International Anti-Corruption Center in partnership with "Asparez" Journalists' Club and Helsinki Citizens' Assembly Vanadzor Office was launched within the framework of USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption Activity, implemented by Casals and Associates, Inc. Armenia Branch.

On June 10, 2010, Chairwoman of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center Amalia Kostanyan participated in a Conference "The EU and Civil Society in the South Caucasus: a Common Effort to Build Sustainable Peace" organized by German Association for East European Studies, Eurasia Partnership Foundation, and Robert Bosch Stiftung. The conference, held in Berlin, considered the role of civil society within the new peace-building landscape.

Amalia Kostanyan, Chairwoman of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center made presentation during a panel on human rights and civil society at a seminar held in Brussels on June 9, 2010. The panel addressed political corruption, human rights breaches, civil society and government cooperation, as well as media issues. Organized by the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe, the event brought together leading Armenian human rights advocates and political analysts to share expert analyses on the challenges faced by Armenia.

Since May 28, 2010 up till now, sticking to their policy of 2008, the Armenian authorities have illegally blocked opposition representatives' entry to Yerevan's Square of Liberty in the person of special services and police. Armenian citizens' right to free movement in an area in the capital of Yerevan has been violated by obvious breaches of law and cynical motivations based on political affiliation.

On May 10, 2010, the EU General Affairs Council approved the negotiating directives for the future Association Agreements between the EU and Armenia. It is stated that deepening of the relationship between the EU and the countries of the South Caucasus are to progress on the basis of shared values and principles, including democracy, the rule of law and respect for human rights.

Transparency International Anti-corruption Center joined a number of NGOs in their statement of protest against police actions in Yerevan's Liberty Square. It particularly says, "On May 31, 2010, journalist Ani Gevorgyan of "Haykakan Zhamanak" daily was taken to police station and arrested while carrying out her professional duties. A criminal case was opened against her on charges of violence against a representative of authorities based on part 1, Article 316 of the Criminal Code of the Republic of Armenia. It remains unclear as to how a 22-year-old female correspondent could have used force against police officer.

On May 15, 2010, the guests of Radio Liberty's "Tesaketneri Khachmeruk" (A Crossroads of Viewpoints) program Amalia Kostanyan, Chairwoman of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center and Ruzanna Arakelyan, MP from "Armenian Revolutionary Federation" Faction and Member of Standing Committee on European Integration, reflected on the recently released progress reports on anti-corruption and other commitments that Armenia undertook within the scope of implementation of European Neighborhood Policy Action Plan (ENP AP).