GRECO calls for increased oversight and accountability in Armenia's highest executive authorities and police force
YEREVAN, April 22. /ARKA/. The Council of Europe's Group of States against Corruption (GRECO), in a report published on April 22, calls on Armenia to continue efforts to prevent corruption among top executives and the police.
"GRECO notes the positive steps taken since the 2018 Velvet Revolution to intensify the fight against corruption, including through the establishment of a specialized institutional framework.
GRECO also recognizes the existence of a comprehensive financial disclosure system. The Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan 2023-2026 have recently been published. They provide for some promising developments, but the implementation of these plans will need to be effectively put into practice," says the report posted on the organization's website.
The report emphasizes that Armenia needs a stronger system of accountability in the government to prevent risks of undue influence.
"Several large-scale criminal investigations into high-level corruption and kleptocratic networks linked to previous regimes are underway, but to date no convictions have been handed down.
More needs to be done to improve access to information and public participation in decision-making. Moreover, effective lobbying rules have yet to be adopted," the document says.
As for the police, GRECO notes that it lacks a well-developed ethical infrastructure - it has neither a specific anti-corruption policy/strategy nor its own Code of Conduct, and no risk assessment has been conducted so far.
"There is a need to tighten up the vetting procedures at the time of hiring and at regular intervals. Internal oversight would benefit from additional staff and a proactive rather than reactive approach. The representation of women in all police positions should be strengthened both at the recruitment stage and in the context of internal promotion. More could also be done to improve the transparency of police operations and the relevance and timeliness of information provided to the public. Finally, additional steps are needed to build confidence for informing and counseling whistleblowers, as well as their protection," the report says.
GRECO expects the authorities to report on the implementation of the report's 22 recommendations by September 30, 2025, after which the organization will assess the country's level of compliance. -0--
