Transparency International Anti-corruption Center (TIAC) opened an Advocacy and Assistance Center (AAC) in Yerevan on March 2, 2009 within its "Establishment and operation of AACs in Yerevan, Gyumri and Vanadzor" project, supported by USAID Mobilizing Action Against Corruption Activity. AACs in Lori and Shirak Marzes were launched in December 2008.

The ceremony brought together representatives of diplomatic missions, international organizations and media outlets. US Ambassador Marie L. Yovanovitch welcomed the capacity audience with opening remarks noting, "Successfully reducing corruption requires an integrated approach that includes the development and implementation of government systems and policies to make corrupt practices more difficult and detectable."

AAC Project Manager Sona Ayvazyan informed about planned activities to support citizens in their fight against corruption. AAC aims to enhance the capacity of citizens or organizations to redress their grievances and stimulate system-level reforms through legal advice and assistance in formulating and channeling the citizens' corruption-related complaints to respective government agencies, including courts; analyzing complaints, identifying loopholes that promote proliferation of corrupt practices, as well as developing policy proposals and organizing campaigns for institutional reforms. AAC plans to produce quarterly reports on its website. Citizens may report on corruption cases to Yerevan AAC through the 0 8000 1110 toll-free hotline. Out of complaints received during January and February 2009 the majority referred to judiciary and construction.

TIAC Chairwoman Amalia Kostanyan summed up the event by saying that a country with systemic corruption can combat it only at the level of state institutes, whereas civil society organizations should support that struggle assuming political will to fight corruption.