ArmInfo. The creation of mechanisms to detect corruption crimes and the adoption of the law on confiscation of illegally acquired property and a number of other institutional measures create a strong foundation for the prevention of corruption risks in public administration.
As Minister of Justice of Armenia Rustam Badasyan stated from the rostrum of NA, the institutional anti- corruption bodies have recently been created in the country. "In particular, an anti-corruption commission was formed, in 2021 it is planned to create an anti-corruption committee, a special anti-corruption unit will operate in the General Prosecutor's Office, and finally, an Anti-corruption Court will be created," Badasyan emphasized.
According to him, the so-called institute of informants will have a significant role in identifying corruption crimes. In 2019, an anonymous electronic network of informants was created, which over the past year received 220,000 alarms of corruption, 28% of which were investigated by the authorities. "Unfortunately, there is still a prejudice in our society regarding such a measure, but we will continue campaigning in this direction," the minister said.
In this anti-corruption context, the Minister of Justice considered it important to facilitate regulation, and cited as an example the fact that since March of the current year in the three largest maternity hospitals in Yerevan it is already possible to receive not only a birth certificate, but also recognize paternity and register a marriage. <This was done to make life easier for our citizens. It is planned to introduce these services in 8 more maternity hospitals of the capital>, Badasyan emphasized.
He also noted that in 2019, the e-justice system was introduced, and the National Assembly adopted the Judicial Code, which was developed with the study of international experience and received a positive opinion of the Venice Commission. <Programs have been developed to amend administrative proceedings. In 2019, certain changes were also made in the system of the Judicial Acts Compulsory Enforcement Service. We are also developing a system for the implementation of the bankruptcy process electronically>, Badasyan emphasized. The minister also spoke about the reforms carried out in the penitentiary system. <We plan to completely eliminate the criminal subculture from prisons, as well as corruption. A number of actions were taken to improve life in prisons, in particular, a new food system was introduced in a number of prisons. Private companies continue to organize catering, as a result of which all prisoners eat in canteens. Moreover, the Center for Penitentiary Medicine was formed, that is, medical services are not provided in prisons. The salary of employees was increased by 20%, which will increase the attractiveness of work in this body>, Badasyan concluded.
Badasyan said that in the context of the fight against corruption last year, he suggested that the Supreme Judicial Council impose disciplinary sanctions against 11 judges.
The Minister recalled that in October 2019, the Armenian government adopted an anti-corruption program for 2020-2022. According to him, international organizations highly appreciate measures to combat corruption in Armenia.