Armenia – is anti-corruption working?
Having worked on anti-corruption in Armenia, whenever I see an article, I read it with tremendous interest. In this case the Armenia Weekly reminds me that there is an element of “plus ça change, plus c'est la même chose” (the more things change the more they remain the same). In this case, “anti-corruption institutions in Armenia are increasingly perceived as tools for internal political struggle, rather than mechanisms for overcoming the country’s difficult post-Soviet legacy and entering the European system.” This is supported by the fact that investigations against senior government officials has led to disregard by Armenian law enforcement and judicial authorities of their involvement in corruption schemes, which in turn leads to assumption that the ruling party and the senior officials are influencing the outcomes. As Armenia would like to join the European Union, these types of actions are seen by the European representatives in the country.
Why should this matter and what should be done? This matters as the notion of fighting corruption is not simply a check box for a country trying to join the EU but is a serious requirement. The supporters of Armenia’s desire to join the EU should be clear with the government of Armenia that they need to become serious and use the tools they have to move forward. Corruption at the senior levels of government be it in Yerevan or in Kyiv is noted, not only in Brussels but by their citizens. The citizens of Armenia, as well as CSOs, should continue monitoring and publicizing the government’s actions, even if they are not moving in the correct direction. This article reminds us that simply having all the tools in place, good judicial systems and anti-corruption bodies, doesn’t mean much if there isn’t political will. Let’s hope that Yerevan will hear the message and act accordingly.
Link: