PROSECUTOR GENERAL’S OFFICE DEPARTMENT COMBATING CORRUPTION
INVESTIGATED 6 CRIMINAL CASES WITHIN SIX MONTH OF ITS ACTIVITY
X-Sender: Asbed Bedrossian <asbed@usc.edu>
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YEREVAN, AUGUST 23. ARMINFO. The Department for struggle against
corruption of the Armenian Prosecutor General’s Office investigated 6
criminal cases within 6 months of its activity. Head of the department
Mihran Minasyan made this statement at a press conference organized by
the “Hakastver” (Anti-shadow) NGO.

The department was established in April 2004. At present 8 prosecutors
operate at the department. The department’s activity is coordinated
directly by the Prosecutor General. The department also considers the
complaints of the citizens which number already 100 related to
corruption in all the spheres, especially the judicial
system. Agreeing that the number of complaints is less than the real
cases of corruption, Minasayan at the same time stated that the
employees of the department have no right to lodge criminal cases, as
it requires at least complaints. At the same time, Minasyan said that
he is not informed of the numerous publications in the press related
displays of corruption.

His statements often contradicted to each other: at first he stated
that a department of 8 people cannot answer all the questions
interesting, at the same time adding that there are enough employees
at the department. He also refrained from an answer to the question
related the percentage of the efficiency factor of its department.

In his turn, attending the press conference Head of OSCE Office in
Yerevan Ambassador Vladimir Pryakhin pointed out the importance of
cooperation of the Prosecutor’s Office and the press as a
representative of the people’s interests. He pointed out the
continuing cooperation with the Prosecutor’s Office adding that an
anti-corruption textbook will be published under this cooperation, as
well as events for Armenian specialists are organized.