Varuzhan Hoktanyan: What was the use of giving Davit Harutyunyan's email address? (video)
Hovik Abrahamyan’s latest call for the speedy fight against corruption has created a dubious impression, says Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Executive Director of the Transparency International anti-corruption center. “First of all, I think considering the current situation they came to understand that our statehood is periled if things continue in the same way in many sectors. The four-day April war also showed it. I repeat that the level of corruption in a country like ours, which has neither gas nor oil, is a serious challenge and it can really lead to the loss of our statehood,” he said. At the same time, Mr Hoktanyan could not understand why the Armenian PM decided to speak about corruption at this moment. “Somehow, it made an impression of a declarative statement. What was the use of mentioning the email address of Davit Harutyunyan if we have an anti-corruption council? I think if the latter starts working seriously, we can already see results.” In reply to A1+ whether everything will again ‘remain on paper,’ Varuzhan Hoktanyan said, “I think they will. This is a difficult step to take for it requires political will. In some countries it was done through coups or spontaneously but they realized that the moment had matured and they could no longer continue to live in that way and the same Godfathers of corruption either resigned or made major changes.”
