Armenia`s premier chairs Anti-Corruption Policy Council`s meeting

ArmInfo. The Anti-Corruption Policy Council chaired by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan took place.

The first item on the agenda was the issues raised by the Independent  Observer Alliance and the Eyewitness Observation Mission regarding  local government election violations, as well as the process of  investigating electoral crimes. The focus was on increasing the level  of control over legality, revealing cases of electoral corruption,  steps aimed at preventing electoral violations, party financing  mechanisms, and ensuring transparency of electoral expenditures. In  relation to the above issues, the importance of revealing the causal  links of electoral corruption, clearly defining administrative  resources, and setting party financing standards was emphasized.

The second item on the agenda concerned the progress of criminal  cases in the procurement sector.  Information was provided on  decisions being made to ensure transparency. The members of the  Council touched upon the state procurement regulations, supervisory  activities of the State Supervisory Service, public oversight  mechanisms, provision of additional levers, formats, and capacity  development in the procurement process.

Next, the work carried out in the areas of investigation of criminal  cases of a corruption nature and confiscation of property of illegal  origin was presented. Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan reported  that according to criminal proceedings completed during 2024,  property damage of 8 billion 20 million drams was caused of a  corruption nature. Property damage of 1 billion 163 million 514  thousand drams has been restored.

There were 152 lawsuits in the proceedings of the Anti-Corruption  Court related to the confiscation of property of illegal origin.  About 1,500 real estate, 290 movable property, 400 rights to  participate in legal entities, and 540 billion monetary funds are  under prohibition. The total claim amount is about 600 billion drams.  5 judicial acts were issued, 8 reconciliation agreements were signed.

Under the reconciliation agreements, the Republic of Armenia was  transferred 7 real estate, 2 movable property, as of June 3, 2025:  815 million 200 thousand drams and 50 thousand 720 euros. 1 judicial  act has entered into legal force.

Under the settlement agreements, 7 immovable properties and 2 movable  properties were transferred to the Republic of Armenia, as of June 3,  2025, 815 million 200 thousand drams and 50 thousand 720 euros. 1  judicial act entered into legal force.

It was reported that about 2 billion 785 million drams or 7 million  69 thousand dollars were actually recovered through judicial acts  adopted in 2024 to protect state (community) interests. In 2024, the  ownership rights of the Republic of Armenia or the community were  registered with 18 units of real estate with a cadastral value of  about 2 billion 785 million 511 thousand drams, approximated to the  market value.

During 2024, the total value of properties returned to the state and  communities based on prosecutorial acts amounted to 107 million 341  thousand drams. 43 claims worth 207 million drams were satisfied by  judicial acts that entered into legal force.

During the first half of 2025, the ownership rights of the Republic  of Armenia were restored to 7 properties.  The cadastral value,  approximated to the market, amounted to 3 billion 365 million drams.  During the first half of 2025, the ownership rights of communities  were restored to 4 properties. The cadastral value, approximated to  the market, amounted to 275 million drams.

During the first half of 2025, 218 million drams were confiscated in  favor of the Republic of Armenia in satisfied claims. During the same  period, the following were returned to the communities based on  prosecutorial acts: the kindergarten building of the Khashtarak  settlement, the kindergarten building of the Dilijan community, and  the stadium of the Martuni community.

It was also reported that the Military Prosecutor's Office, within  the framework of its authority to protect state interests, has  recovered 11 million 310 thousand dollars, equivalent to 4 billion  462 million 706 thousand drams.

Since its establishment, December 5, 2024, 17 billion 167 million  drams have been received into the Unified Account of Recovered Funds  established by the Government Decision.

The last item on the agenda presented the work carried out in the  field of developing the Reporting System and the existing problems.  Minister of Justice Srbuhi Galyan noted that as a result of the work  carried out to improve the Reporting System, the number of reports  has recently increased. In particular, it was reported that in 2021  the number of reports was 75, in 2022 and 2023 - 116 each, in 2024 -  380, and in the first half of 2025 this number has already reached  282.

According to those responsible, international experience, improving  anonymity and security guarantees are also taken into account in  improving the Reporting System. Suggestions for the development of  the system were also presented.

In conclusion, Prime Minister Pashinyan instructed to continue  discussions on the issues discussed and raised at the council meeting  and to present steps to resolve them at the next meeting.