Transparency International: the police and the court are the most corrupt bodies in Armenia

According to a survey undertaken by the organization "Transparency International", a slight progress was registered in the sphere of struggle against corruption in Armenia in 2010. The experts of the organization state that the police and the courts still remain the most corrupt bodies in Armenia. 

The report by "Transparency International" was prepared within the framework of the program "New Vicinity" of the European Union and touches upon the question of fulfillment of the commitment assumed by Armenia in the sphere of struggle against corruption in accordance with the above mentioned program. 

According to the report, beside the judges and policemen, state officials and civilian employees are considered as the most corrupt categories. 

It should be reminded that earlier, the "Caucasian Knot" reported: according to the public opinion poll undertaken among the population of Armenia by the experts of "Transparency International" last year, the respondents marked out the spheres of education, police and juridical systems as the most corrupt ones.

According to the present survey, a slight progress was registered in the spheres of judicial reforms, civil service and implementation of advice from GRECO (organization for struggle against corruption of the Council of Europe). At the same time, the report runs that the major problem of Armenian juridical system is a lack of independence and transparency. 

A high level of corruption in Armenia was also mentioned in the annual report of The United States Department of State published recently. 

"Armenia is a deeply corrupt country which puts obstacles in the way of proper and efficient application of law that might strengthen and improve Armenia's position in the case of struggle against terrorism", this report runs. 

According to the results of the survey made by "Caucasian Center of Research Resources - Armenia" last July among 1515 family households and 400 entrepreneurs in different regions of the country, the majority of the respondents consider that the most corrupt spheres are electoral system, the police, public prosecutor's offices, the courts, public health and education. 

According to public opinion polls, the institution of the Ombudsman enjoys the highest level of the respondents' confidence. 

Prosecutor General of Armenia Agvan Ovsepyan formerly stated that a growth of the number of corruption-related crimes was registered in the country. 

"Complex measures are necessary for struggle against corruption, first of all, prophylactic and preventive ones. Corruption is a latent sort of crime and the Government needs public support in struggle against it", Agvan Ovsepyan said.

He reported that Prosecutor General's was taking active measures for struggle against corruption. In particular, a special service investigating corruption-related crimes and studying the officials' activities was created within public prosecutor's structure.