In order to provide legal assistance to citizens on corruption related cases and to undertake advocacy for broader reform, Anti-corruption Advocacy and Assistance Center (AAC) in Shirak Marz was launched on December 19, 2008 in the premises of Gyumri-based "Asparez" Journalists' Club. It also aims to reveal the laws that contain corruption risks and the shortcomings of implementation of the laws and decisions. The 0800 01 121 hotline will be operating to help citizens.

The Center has been set up within the framework of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center's "Establishment and Operation of Anti-corruption AACs in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor" project, supported by USAID Mobilizing Action against Corruption Activity, implemented by Casals and Associates, Inc.

Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Vice Chair of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center welcomed opening of the Center and informed that similar AACs would operate in other Marzes of Armenia as well. In his opinion the establishment of the Center would help break with the tradition of centralizing everything in Yerevan. Countries like Armenia, where corruption is of systemic nature to the detriment of the economy, corruption has powerful manifestations in the provinces.