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MARCH 1: NOT PART OF INTERNAL CORRUPTION?

Politics


Thirty Armenian prosecutors, ten investigators from the special investigative service, ten police investigators, two NSS officials, two officials of the tax service, two customs officials have joined the representatives of the U.S. corresponding bodies to find out how they can fight against corruption.

How appropriate and effective is it for Armenian experts to leave work and participate in the conference held on the U.S. Department of Justice on “Successful Techniques for the Investigation and Prosecution of Corruption”? RA Deputy Prosecutor General Armen Danielyan explained to “A1+”.

“I hope that this will be just one of the conferences and that we will have the opportunity to get acquainted with procedures in the U.S. We must free ourselves from corruption at the political, governmental and economic levels in order to create a democratic society.”

Danileyan doesn’t believe that Armenians lack the will to fight against corruption. “As Deputy Prosecutor General, I assure you that the Prosecutor General is willing to support the fight against corruption and we will engage journalists in the process.”

How do you envision the fight against corruption when many Armenian citizens distrust prosecutors and complain about prosecutors? In response to this, Danielyan said:

“We can always say that there are people who lack trust. I believe that the behavior of a state official may serve as a basis to form public opinion that there is corruption in government.”

Why don’t people trust the Prosecution General? Head of the department of fight against corruption and organized crimes of the RA Prosecution General Armen Arshafyan had this to say to that:

“The people lack trust not only in prosecutors, but also many state structures. We must gradually overcome that barrier with your help.”

Today’s conference did not touch upon the events of March 1, even from the aspects of loss or increase in people’s trust in prosecutors and the courts.

Since U.S. Prosecutor Steven Kessler believes that the goal of the conference is to make it easier for citizens to complain to the police. “A1+” asked Kessler why the conference overlooked the events of March 1.

“We haven’t touched upon those issues because what we are discussing refers to the fight against corruption,” said Mr. Kessler and added: “I understand that citizens are not satisfied with the work of the police and prosecutors, but I hope that Armenian judges and prosecutors will reach success and will take into account the decisions of the European Court.”