Prosecutor General presents Armenia's experience with non-conviction-based asset forfeiture
30.09.2026,
15:24
Armenia's Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan presented the country's experience regarding the recovery and confiscation of assets of illicit origin—including instances where no criminal conviction has been secured—to her CIS counterparts, the Prosecutor General's Office press service reported.
YEREVAN, September 30. /ARKA/. Armenia's Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan presented the country's experience regarding the recovery and confiscation of assets of illicit origin—including instances where no criminal conviction has been secured—to her CIS counterparts, the Prosecutor General's Office press service reported.
Speaking via video link at the 36th meeting of the Coordinating Council of CIS Prosecutors General, Vardapetyan noted that the transnational nature of modern crime complicates the recovery of illicitly acquired assets, as they can be moved across borders, registered to affiliated parties, or converted into other forms of property.
She stated that the inability to pursue criminal prosecution should not automatically preclude the recovery of illicitly acquired assets. In this context, Vardapetyan highlighted the mechanism of non-conviction-based asset forfeiture.
The Prosecutor General noted that the adoption of the Law "On Confiscation of Property of Illicit Origin" in 2020 established a legal framework in Armenia for employing a distinct civil-law mechanism to recover illicitly acquired assets.
Vardapetyan emphasized that international cooperation must begin as early as the asset identification and tracing stage, enabling the prompt freezing and seizure of assets and ensuring their preservation pending the conclusion of domestic judicial proceedings.
She identified several challenges to international cooperation, including disparities between national legal systems, the absence of similar civil-law confiscation mechanisms, and restrictions on using information obtained through unofficial channels as evidence. According to Vardapetyan, it is necessary to develop the rapid exchange of information regarding assets, improve mechanisms for freezing and seizing them, ensure international legal assistance prior to a final court ruling, and facilitate the mutual recognition and enforcement of court orders.
Earlier, on August 6, 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the system for confiscating assets of illicit origin had "begun to operate fully," and that the government had set a goal to recover assets worth approximately $2 billion for the state and local communities between 2026 and 2031.
At that time, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan reported that assets worth approximately 6.3 billion drams had already been recovered through the confiscation mechanism alone, and that 172 lawsuits were pending in court.
Speaking via video link at the 36th meeting of the Coordinating Council of CIS Prosecutors General, Vardapetyan noted that the transnational nature of modern crime complicates the recovery of illicitly acquired assets, as they can be moved across borders, registered to affiliated parties, or converted into other forms of property.
She stated that the inability to pursue criminal prosecution should not automatically preclude the recovery of illicitly acquired assets. In this context, Vardapetyan highlighted the mechanism of non-conviction-based asset forfeiture.
The Prosecutor General noted that the adoption of the Law "On Confiscation of Property of Illicit Origin" in 2020 established a legal framework in Armenia for employing a distinct civil-law mechanism to recover illicitly acquired assets.
Vardapetyan emphasized that international cooperation must begin as early as the asset identification and tracing stage, enabling the prompt freezing and seizure of assets and ensuring their preservation pending the conclusion of domestic judicial proceedings.
She identified several challenges to international cooperation, including disparities between national legal systems, the absence of similar civil-law confiscation mechanisms, and restrictions on using information obtained through unofficial channels as evidence. According to Vardapetyan, it is necessary to develop the rapid exchange of information regarding assets, improve mechanisms for freezing and seizing them, ensure international legal assistance prior to a final court ruling, and facilitate the mutual recognition and enforcement of court orders.
Earlier, on August 6, 2026, Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan stated that the system for confiscating assets of illicit origin had "begun to operate fully," and that the government had set a goal to recover assets worth approximately $2 billion for the state and local communities between 2026 and 2031.
At that time, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan reported that assets worth approximately 6.3 billion drams had already been recovered through the confiscation mechanism alone, and that 172 lawsuits were pending in court.
