The defendant in today’s corruption case has been convicted by the court during the government session. Chairman of the State Committee of the Republic of Armenia Against Corruption, Sason Khachatrian, addressed the concerns raised by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan regarding corruption. He revealed that there is an ongoing criminal case related to the embezzlement of nearly 20 million drams from the Prime Minister’s Personal Reserve Fund. Upon acceptance of the case by the court, all defendants were released from custody. However, there is a concerning practice of delaying court deliberations for years in corruption cases where there is no detention.

The ongoing trial in the Anti-Corruption Court involves four defendants who are civil servants responsible for abuse of power. Two of them resorted to bribery as a means of coercion, one through residential intimidation and the other through written threats. The fourth defendant attempted to interfere with the investigation. After examining the corruption allegations, the court concluded that there is no need for the main means of coercion, which is intimidation. The coercive means utilized in these corruption-related crimes are deemed sufficient to ensure justice for the defendants. The representative of the public prosecution did not provide any preliminary examinations, conclusions, or findings to suggest that the absence of coercion would allow the defendants to influence the investigation.

It is important to clarify that coercive means do not include humiliating treatment. Additionally, it is recommended that the selection process for coercive means be actively facilitated by the judicial authorities to expedite litigation or aid in operational cooperation with the investigation. In conclusion, the judiciary has a duty to substantiate its principles and beliefs to the public and other branches of power, as well as to prevent possible unethical actions and behaviors. Starting from January 2024, the court will publicly disclose all proceedings, deliberations, irregularities, and violations not only through publications but also through audio and video materials.

Source: NEWS.am