Armenia to replace Special Investigative Service with Anti-Corruption Committee

YEREVAN, March 24. /ARKA /. The Armenian parliament has passed today in the second and final reading the draft law On Anti-Corruption Committee. It has also approved a set of amendments and additions to a number of related laws.

According to Justice Minister Rustam Badasyan, members of the Anti-Corruption Committee cannot belong to political parties or engage in political activities.

According to him, the Anti-Corruption Committee will combine investigative and operational-search functions, which are expected to help increase the efficiency of the investigation of corruption crimes.

“The chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Committee is chosen and appointed by the government from three candidates who are to be nominated by the competition council,” Badasyan said.

He also noted that the chairperson of the Anti-Corruption Committee will submit a written report on its activities to the government and the National Assembly every year by January 31st. The Anti-Corruption Committee is financed from the state budget.

According to him, the Anti-Corruption Committee, in fact, will become the second law enforcement body after the Commission for the Prevention of Corruption, investigating corruption crimes.

Consequently, it was decided to dissolve the Special Investigative Service to avoid duplicating of functions. The draft law has also transitional provisions.

The Special Investigative Service was formed on November 28, 2007. Its main function is to investigate criminal cases involving crimes committed with the complicity of senior legislative, executive and judicial official, as well as criminal cases involving election fraud. -0-