Armenia’s Commission for the Prevention of Corruption (CPC), one of the key institutions in the country in the fight against corruption, surprisingly does not have the authority to cooperate with foreign governments.

Thus, when “red flags” appear regarding the overseas property and income owned by Armenian officials, the CPC cannot pass on such information or request legal support from the countries where those assets are located.

Hetq regularly publishes the findings of investigations looking into the business activities of Armenian government officials overseas, but the CPC cannot pursue such cases globally

One of the functions of the CPC is to ensure that state officials, community leaders and their deputies, the heads of Yerevan administrative districts and their deputies, follow the requirements and other constraints established by law.

The CPC must also oversee the process by which officials file their annual financial disclosures and investigate any indications of illegally obtained assets.

Hetq asked the CPC how many inquiries it has sent to foreign anti-corruption agencies regarding the overseas property/assets owned by Armenian officials.

 We also asked how many of the lawsuits filed against officials’ property, income and interests were resolved due to overseas assistance.

The CPC does not have the authority to “cooperate” with foreign governments or agencies.

CPC Chair Haykuhi Harutyunyan says that Armenia has undertaken certain obligations by joining several international conventions, such as the UN Convention against Corruption and the Council of Europe’s Criminal Law on Corruption, and its Civil Law Convention on Corruption.

Accordingly, Harutyunyan says that appropriate bodies must be formed and take the necessary measures.

Harutyunyan claims that given the above regulations the CPC does not have the authority to request such information, mutual assistance, assistance as part of its preventive function.