Armenia's anti-corruption efforts under scrutiny
GRECO report highlights gaps
REGION 20 April 2024 - 16:21
At the 96th plenary meeting of the Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) of the Council of Europe (CoE) held in Strasbourg from March 18-22, 2024, a report on Armenia was adopted within the framework of GRECO's fifth assessment round.
The report, prepared by GRECO's evaluation team (GET) during their visit to Armenia on September 11-15, 2023, sheds light on significant gaps in the country's anti-corruption policies and practices, Caliber.Az reports, citing the reports.
Anti-corruption measures
Armenia's efforts to prevent corruption among top executive functions (PTEFs) and law enforcement officials (LEO) have come under scrutiny following a recent evaluation report. The report, aimed at bolstering transparency, integrity, and accountability in public life, has identified significant gaps in the country's anti-corruption framework.
Additionally, the report criticizes Armenia's financial disclosure system, pointing out weaknesses in monitoring and enforcement mechanisms. While some progress has been made in strengthening financial disclosure monitoring, more resources are needed to effectively combat corruption among PTEFs.
Furthermore, the report highlights deficiencies in Armenia's anti-corruption strategy, particularly in the police force. Despite some measures outlined in reform plans, such as capacity-building and integrity education for police officers, there is a lack of dedicated policies specifically targeting corruption prevention and promoting ethical conduct within law enforcement.
“The police lacks a well-developed ethics infrastructure. It does not have a dedicated anti-corruption policy/strategy, nor a Code of Conduct of its own and no risk assessment has been carried out to date,” the report reads.
Critics argue that the fragmented approach to combating corruption, spread across various government bodies, hampers effective oversight and accountability. Calls have been made for the establishment of a dedicated independent oversight body to ensure a unified approach to anti-corruption efforts.
Moreover, concerns have been raised about the transparency of public procurement processes, especially regarding ceremonial expenses of high-ranking officials. Amendments to the Law on Public Procurement have been criticized for limiting access to information on such expenditures, raising questions about accountability and misuse of public funds.
“The GET heard concerns about the transparency of public procurement (closed/classified) processes regarding ceremonial expenses of the President, the Prime Minister, the candidate for Prime Minister and the President of the National Assembly,” the report says.
Transparency and access to information
Armenia's commitment to transparency and access to information is under scrutiny as concerns arise over the implementation and effectiveness of existing laws and regulations. A closer look at Armenia's Freedom of Information Act (FoIA) reveals shortcomings and challenges in practice.
While the legislation outlines procedures for requesting and processing information, civil society organizations (CSOs) and media outlets report difficulties in obtaining timely and complete responses from state agencies. The extended processing times, averaging 35 days according to media sources, hinder the media's watchdog role and limit public oversight.
One of the key criticisms revolves around the broad discretion granted to public authorities to refuse information requests, often citing reasons such as privacy concerns and state secrecy. Recent amendments to the Law on State Secrets further complicate access to information, raising fears of arbitrary restrictions and curtailment of freedom of information.
Moreover, proactive publication practices fall short of expectations, with many official websites lacking comprehensive and up-to-date information as mandated by the FoIA. CSOs argue that certain sectors, particularly those involving public assets and resources like mining and hydropower, remain opaque despite their significance and potential for corruption.
Challenging refusals or inadequate responses proves burdensome for citizens and organizations, with complaints often redirected to the same authorities responsible for the initial decision. Legal appeals, while available, are time-consuming and financially demanding, discouraging individuals from pursuing them except to set precedents.
Moreover, the financial burden associated with pursuing judicial appeals further compounds the challenges faced by civil society organizations seeking transparency and accountability from state authorities.
The difficulties encountered by civil society in challenging FoIA refusals highlight systemic flaws in Armenia's information disclosure mechanisms. These obstacles hinder the ability of citizens and organizations to hold government officials accountable and undermine efforts to promote transparency and good governance.
Lobbying activities
In its evaluation report, GRECO highlights the absence of legislative initiatives to cover lobbying, emphasizing the need for urgent action to address this issue.
Currently, Armenia lacks regulations governing lobbying activities, leaving the legislative process vulnerable to potential influence from third parties without adequate transparency measures in place. The absence of rules on lobbying undermines citizens' trust in politicians and the democratic process.
In line with its established practice, GRECO urges Armenia to introduce detailed rules and guidance on how persons with top executive functions engage with lobbyists and third parties seeking to influence government activities. Additionally, GRECO recommends the disclosure of sufficient information about the purpose of these contacts, including the identities of individuals involved and the specific subjects discussed.
The Group of States against Corruption (GRECO) was established in 1999 by the Council of Europe with the primary aim of monitoring states' compliance with the organization's anti-corruption standards. As an integral part of the Council of Europe's efforts to combat corruption, GRECO plays a crucial role in assessing member states' adherence to established guidelines and promoting measures to strengthen anti-corruption measures.
Caliber.Az
1
|
Critical F-35 upgrade deferred, 2024 production slashed by 27-50%
01 May 2024 - 09:05
|
2
|
Factory burst into flames in Germany PHOTO / VIDEO
03 May 2024 - 16:19
|
3
|
EU aid to Armenia stalled as Hungary pushes for Azerbaijan's inclusion Geopolitical tensions revealed
02 May 2024 - 17:41
|
4
|
BRICS de-dollarization threatens US economy, JP Morgan CEO predicts
01 May 2024 - 20:49
|
5
|
Turning point for Georgia - Foreign Agents Law Georgian experts’ views for Caliber.Az
02 May 2024 - 12:40
|
First motorcycle engine without gasoline or electricity
it runs on something better04 May 2024 - 07:03
China, America trade blame for world on fire
04 May 2024 - 05:04
Japan faces a tough tug-of-war with yen bears
04 May 2024 - 03:05
Orangutan seen using medicinal plant to treat wound in first for wild animals
04 May 2024 - 01:03
Bosnia accuses Israeli diplomat of genocide denial
"Disgrace to diplomacy"03 May 2024 - 23:01
Traffic accident leaves one dead in Azerbaijan’s Kalbajar
03 May 2024 - 21:07
Azertac hosts 31st meeting of CIS state news agencies, focuses on cooperation & future initiatives
03 May 2024 - 20:55
Azerbaijan, Russia hold negotiations on development of transport cooperation
03 May 2024 - 20:51
Japan, US, Australia, Philippines agree on rules-based Indo-Pacific
03 May 2024 - 20:36
Azerbaijan’s Aghdam holds special session within sixth World Forum on Intercultural Dialogue
03 May 2024 - 20:21
Armenian top prosecutor seeks investigation of premier over border delimitation
03 May 2024 - 20:15
Pro-Armenian Senator Menendez pretends to be crazy
He fears of not having enough money03 May 2024 - 20:06
SOCAR to join UN Oil & Gas Methane Partnership 2.0 program, says department head
03 May 2024 - 19:58
Azerbaijani, Russian deputy PMs discuss trade, economic issues
03 May 2024 - 19:51
Azerbaijan seeks cinema sector collaboration with Italy, says culture minister
03 May 2024 - 19:45
Italy to send latest package of military aid to Ukraine before G7 summit in June
03 May 2024 - 19:36
Russian leader plans to meet Xi in China days after his new term starts
03 May 2024 - 19:21
The Guardian: Preparation for COP29 underway
03 May 2024 - 19:06
UK’s Defence Ministry: Ukraine demonstrates ability to strike much further into Russia
03 May 2024 - 18:51
Azerbaijani minister, EC chief mull EU partnership in COP29 framework
03 May 2024 - 18:45
Azerbaijan, Saudi Arabia strengthening energy partnership
PHOTO03 May 2024 - 18:36
European Commission's rep: COP29 in Azerbaijan - recognition of activity in renewable energy sources
03 May 2024 - 18:21
Turkish airstrikes eliminate 32 PKK terrorists in Iraq
03 May 2024 - 18:06
Yemeni Ansar Allah movement’s leader announces preparation for new round of escalation
03 May 2024 - 17:41
MFA: Media in Azerbaijan as free as in UK
03 May 2024 - 17:26
Profiling Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan – Tavush region protest leader
03 May 2024 - 17:20
Will Azerbaijan's diplomatic efforts bring change?
UNESCO's crucial crossroad03 May 2024 - 17:13
Kazakhstan steps in bridging Armenia-Azerbaijan divide
03 May 2024 - 17:11
Future of engine transition - hydrogen or electricity?
Caliber.Az on YouTube03 May 2024 - 17:05
Transit traffic through Azerbaijan increases 3 times
03 May 2024 - 16:56
US-Japan missile development project to cost over $3 billion
03 May 2024 - 16:37
Factory burst into flames in Germany
PHOTO / VIDEO03 May 2024 - 16:19
Senators meet with International Criminal Court’s reps over concerns about possible Israel arrest warrants
03 May 2024 - 16:04
Tensions escalate over Georgia’s law on foreign agents
Political crisis deepens03 May 2024 - 16:00
Taliban plan regional energy trade hub with Russian oil in mind
03 May 2024 - 15:49
bp investments in Azerbaijan reach $85 billion
03 May 2024 - 15:34
EU ambassador: Mine clearance - one of priorities for Azerbaijan
03 May 2024 - 15:19
G7 draws up plans to backstop debt-raising for Ukraine with Russian assets
03 May 2024 - 15:04
Climate Change Director: ADB holding talks with Azerbaijan to support COP29
03 May 2024 - 14:49
bp opens ICT laboratory in Azerbaijan
03 May 2024 - 14:34