Transparency International Anti-corruption Center applied to RA National Assemblys Interim Committee on Ethics and Ethics Commission for High Ranking Officials with a request to consider the issue of violation of the rules of ethics by Vice President of the National Assembly, MP Hermine Naghdalyan with regard to combining her legislative activity with entrepreneur one. TIAC also requested from the Ethics Commission for High Ranking Officials to provide information on her assets and income declarations, analysis of their sources, and their comparison with information circulated in mass media. Meanwhile TIAC asked from the Commission to come up with its official position on high-ranking officials engagement in entrepreneur activities and on their companies participation in public procurement process.

It should be reminded that TIAC applied to RA National Assemblys Interim Committee on Ethics and Ethics Commission for High Ranking Officials based on an article headlined "Armenias National Assembly VP "Wins" 409.2 Million AMD Road Repair Contract" published in Hetq online in its August 29 issue, according to which without open bidding public procurement contract was awarded to "Sisian F&PA" LLC belonging to Naghdalyan and by RA Government decision, 416 million 769 thousand AMD was allocated for capital repair work in certain sections of Highway M-2 Yerevan-Yeraskh-Goris-Meghri- Islamic Republic of Iran border km 177+000-km 217+000.

In addition to violating provision stipulated by RA Constitution, according to which an MP may not be engaged in entrepreneurial activities and hold office in state bodies, combining legislative and entrepreneurial activities casts serious doubt on using the reputation of the MPs office in her interest or that of another person and increasing risks for conflict of interest. Pursuant to Article 6 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia on Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, MP must make a statement on the conflict of interest in cases provided by law, as well as observe the rules of ethics for the MP, including respect and observe the law, not use the reputation of the MPs office in his/her interest or that of another person or contribute by his/her actions to developing trust in and respect for the National Assembly.

TIAC is of the opinion that awarding a public procurement contract by the company with Vice President of the National Assembly Naghdalyans participation without open bidding casts serious doubt on using the reputation of the MPs office, which makes negative opinion on MP and the institution she represents.