On December 8, 2017 Transparency International national chapter in Armenia, Transparency International Anticorruption Center organized an event in Yerevan to mark International Anti-corruption Day, which brought together over 90 participants representing state bodies, international organizations, foreign diplomatic missions, NGOs and the media.

In the opening part of the event the Amalya Kostanyan awards for 2016 and 2017 were presented, honoring individuals in recognition of their principled and courageous actions and contribution to the development of Armenian civil society. David Amiryan, Deputy Director for Programs of Open Society Foundations-Armenia presented Amalia Kostanyan’s role in the establishment of civil society in Armenia, as well as the significance of the award. He noted that Amalia was a person who offered innovative and out-of-box solutions to the current problems and attached great importance to education and youth engagement.

Amalya Kostanyan 2016 award-winner was Marianna Grigoryan, editor of MediaLab.am (MediaLab- Newsroom Laboratory) for the series of political cartoons. “I am very grateful for this assessment and honored since I personally knew Amalia Kostanyan. This award is very important for me. We and our team believe in what we do and believe that we can make a change,” noted Marianna Grigoryan in her thankyou speech.

2017 Amalya Kostanyan award went to Daniel Ioannisyan, Programs Coordinator at Union of Informed Citizens NGO for exposing misuse of administrative resources in 2017 parliamentary elections in Armenia. “Everyone knew of the misuse of administrative resources but no one could prove it. We did it!. Despite the authorities’ refutations and references to lack of evidence we managed to gather facts substantiating misuse of administrative resources,” said Ioannisyan.

The traditional annual statement on International Anticorruption Day was delivered during the event.

Varuzhan Hoktanyan, TIAC Projects Director introduced the state of corruption in Armenia in 2016-2017, Armenia’s anti-corruption policy and implementation of its international obligations.

The event was concluded by holding a panel discussion titled “Corruption and National Security Challenges.” The panel included representatives from TIAC, Projects Director Varuzhan Hoktanyan; the government, Deputy Minister of Justice Suren Krmoyan; as well as invited experts - Social Anthropologist Hranush Kharatyan; Chairman of Helsinki Committee of Armenia Avetik Ishkhanyan; Analyst, Head of the Armenian Center for National and International Studies Manvel Sargsyan and discussed challenges to Armenia’s defense and security, the protection of human rights, public resources and social protection and offered possible solutions to overcome them.

The event was live broadcast by Journalists’ Union “Asparez.”

See photo stories.

For media coverage see the Armenian section

Armenpress Event dedicated to the International Anticorruption Day