Let’s Condemn So It Doesn’t Repeat”: Karen Zadoyan on the Dismissals of SJC and Anti-Corruption Committee Chairmen

Within the framework of the “Let’s Unite Forces to Prevent Corruption” campaign, on December 9, Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association (ALA), spoke during the panel discussion titled “Changing Public Perceptions of Corruption and Presenting Best Practices.”
The panel discussion was organized through the efforts of the “Armenia Integrity” program implemented with USAID funding and the Ministry of Justice.
According to Karen Zadoyan, there have been certain changes in society’s perceptions of corruption; 15 years ago, corruption for society meant only bribery.
“Now people understand that corruption is not only bribery but also the abuse of public power for personal or other self-interested purposes. Our citizens clearly understand this. I think state bodies, civil society representatives, and international partners have played a major role in these changes,” noted the ALA President.

Karen Zadoyan also presented the work done by the Armenian Lawyers’ Association over the past decades. The speaker emphasized the importance of maintaining political neutrality in appointments, especially in selecting members of the Corruption Prevention Commission and the Chairman of the Anti-Corruption Committee.
“Until now, no organization has evaluated the dismissals of the Supreme Judicial Council and Anti-Corruption Committee chairmen. The Prime Minister had no right to ‘request’ regarding these two bodies. The Constitution doesn’t state that the Prime Minister can request; it states that these state bodies should perform what they are authorized to do,” noted Karen Zadoyan.
He expressed gratitude for the anti-corruption week, which brought together actors involved in fighting corruption under one roof. Karen Zadoyan also mentioned that through the “BlowtheWhistle, Armenia” program implemented in cooperation with the Armenian Lawyers’ Association and the Ministry of Justice, private sector and local government representatives, more than 600 students, pupils, and teachers have already been trained.
The one-year phase of the campaign will soon conclude, during which there has already been more than a 200 percent increase in whistleblowing reports.
For more details, see the video.