Anti-corruption efforts and campaigns in Armenia Varuzhan Hoktanyan Project Director Transparency International Armenia

Situation and character of corruption in Armenia What the major anti-corruption indexes tell about Armenia? TI’s Corruption Perception Index (CPI) – 35 in 2015 on [0-100] scale World Bank’s Control of Corruption Index – -0.45 in 2015 on [-2.5 2.5] scale Freedom House Corruption Index - 5.25 in 2016 on [1-7] scale

Situation and character of corruption in Armenia It could be fairly correct to argue that corruption in Armenia has systemic character having pyramidal structure. Root causes of corruption in Armenia Monopolization of economic and political power Convergence of political and business elites Lack of checks and balances between the branches of the government

Typical manifestations of corruption in Armenia State capture Political corruption, especially during elections Embezzlement and misuse of public funds Nepotism, cronyism Bribery Different forms of petty corruption

Anti-corruption policy and institutions in Armenia Legal basis National anti-corruption strategies and their action plans – 2003-2007, 2009-2012 and 2015-2018 Government programs Armenia’s international obligations – OECD Istanbul Action Plan, GRECO, UNCAC

Anti-corruption policy and institutions in Armenia Institutional arrangements Council on the fight against corruption Experts Commission Department of the Monitoring of Anti- corruption Programs within the Staff of the Government Different preventive and investigative bodies having specific anti-corruption functions

Anti-corruption policy and institutions in Armenia Limitations of conducting effective policies Lack of political will Weak and inadequate institutions Character of the regime Lack of adequate financial, human and technical resources Passive, apathetic and tolerant to corruption population ⇒ no pressure from bottom High levels of poverty combined with very small layer of middle class as the agent of change

Actors Involved in the Fight against Corruption International organizations NGOs Civic movements Political parties Role of other actors, such as businesses or church is very limited