The overall situation of corruption in Armenia has worsened compared to previous years, according to the “Nations in Transit 2024” annual report published by Freedom House. According to the report, 44% of those surveyed believe that corruption has increased in the country in the past few months, while 21% believe that it has worsened.

Comparing with the 2018 survey, the number of positive evaluations of anti-corruption measures has more than doubled, while the number of negative evaluations has increased more than tenfold, despite no significant changes in the beginning of the year.

The report also mentions that Armenia accepted the Anti-Corruption Policy and Actions of the Council of Europe for 2023-2026, which focuses on the prevention and fight against corruption, anti-corruption education and training, cooperation with the business sector, monitoring political connections to corruption, and improving the monitoring and evaluation of the anti-corruption system.

At the same time, changes have been made in the leadership of the Public Administration, and two days of discussions were held with stakeholders, raising hopes for effective implementation, according to Freedom House. The report also highlights that the Greco Report published in 2023 by the Council of Europe’s Group of States Against Corruption (GRECO) assessed Armenia’s progress in combating corruption since 2015 and found that none of the 18 recommendations have been satisfactorily implemented or resolved.

The report reveals new cases of irregularities in the management or presence of officials in real estate transactions, misuse of state assets, deficiencies in the monitoring of public officials’ financial disclosure, lack of transparency in public procurements, as well as risks of conflicts of interest and favoritism due to the influence of powerful individuals. Corruption in political party financing continues to undermine public confidence, with involvement of business entities posing serious risks, while the government remains passive despite the announcement of preventive measures.

According to Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI) for 2023, Armenia’s score has improved by 1 point, reaching a score of 47. The leaders of the political group “Citizens’ Accord” issued a joint statement expressing concern over the appointment of Nikol Pashinyan as the head of the anti-corruption body, with observers suggesting that corruption has decreased following political changes, seen by some as an attempt to overshadow Pashinyan’s success.

The report points out that while more corruption cases are being investigated, judicial proceedings are often lengthy and politically motivated. Institutional changes are still needed to improve the effectiveness of anti-corruption measures. Civil society organizations (CSOs) continue to play a leading role in the fight against corruption, but they face pressure, and the transparency of their budgeting has been a topic of discussion. The government’s transparency remains limited, despite measures announced to cooperate with CSOs.

The report concludes that Armenia needs to strengthen the effectiveness of measures, particularly in relation to the political will and independence of anti-corruption institutions. It also highlights the low level of public trust and participation in anti-corruption efforts, exacerbated by the lack of public confidence in anti-corruption institutions, which needs to be addressed.

This news article was originally published on NEWS.am.