In his interview to "Hayatsk" weekly Executive Director of Transparency International Anti-corruption Center Varuzhan Hoktanyan addressed the level of corruption in Armenia as reflected in 2010 TI major indices' values; the main components of effective anti-corruption policy - prevention, detection, and public support; preconditions of systemic corruption; international anti-corruption practices; and means to fight political corruption.

Since its TI Corruption Perceptions Index score ranked below 3.0 corruption is perceived as systemic in Armenia. Systemic corruption endangers national security of a country, reduces its combat readiness and economic viability. According to the data, presented by TI Global Corruption Barometer, the most corrupt area in Armenia is perceived to be education system, followed by police and judiciary, which share second and third positions.

Corruption prevention implies laws, procedures, and other legal acts that minimize corruption risks and close loopholes for corrupt deals. Unless there is political will to become corruption-free, legislative reforms can serve to give an imitation of anti-corruption struggle. Another component of effective anti-corruption policy is detection of corruption crimes and punishment of their perpetrators. The third component is considered public support, one cannot expect effective anti-corruption struggle unless there is public support.

There is lack of political will to eradicate corruption in Armenia. The ruling elite needs certain reforms, self-clearing and determination to be corruption-free, at least it should dismiss the old guard. An important factor contributing for the corruption is the convergence of politics and economics, monopolization of economy, social polarization, tolerance to corruption in the society, and impunity of high-ranking officials. Political corruption became large-scale especially during elections which makes corruption reduction measures transparency, accountability, and ensuring public participation in decision making process less effective.

In any case, no matter how many faces corruption has it should be surmounted since it ruined many countries and led to collapse of civilizations.

See the interview in Armenian on TIAC website