Main points
- In recent years, Armenia has adopted a range of legal reforms, including new laws that aim to strengthen Armenia's asset recovery regime, new whistleblower protection legislation and new legally binding integrity principles for civil servants.
- Armenia has also reformed its institutional framework for countering corruption with the creation of an anti-corruption commission, a specialised anti-corruption court and a new department for asset recovery in the prosecutor general’s office.
- It is as yet too early to conclude whether these steps will result in a sustained reduction of corrupt activity.
- Initial data seem to suggest that Armenia has experienced a reduction in perceived corruption, but critics point to several remaining gaps in the framework for preventing and countering corruption.
- For instance, observers point out that there are still needs for significant reforms in Armenia’s framework for asset recovery; and steps can still be taken to strengthen integrity in the judiciary.