Tuesday, January 19 2021 12:02

ArmInfo. A new institution for declaring expenses will be introduced in Armenia to check the movement of the declarant's finances. The RA National Assembly at its  session on January 19 in the second and final reading introduced  amendments to the law "On Public Service" and to the package of  related laws.

According to the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia  Rustam Badasyan, the package provides for the introduction of a  progressive system of declaring the income of state officials. The  changes are in line with the government's anti-corruption strategy  aimed at preventing and solving corruption crimes. In particular, it  is proposed to introduce a new institution for declaring expenses to  check the entire movement of the declarant's finances, in particular,  at certain expenses that are provided for by law, officials will be  required to declare their expenses. Officials will have to indicate  in the declaration of expenditures if a one- time purchase exceeds 1  million AMD or similar expenses for a certain period, which exceed 2  million AMD. Such expenses include travel expenses (travel and  accommodation expenses), rental of vehicles or real estate, training  or other courses, expenses for agricultural activities. Also, any  expenses are subject to declaration if their value exceeds 2 million  drams or a similar amount in foreign currency.

It is also suggested that it is mandatory to indicate in the  declaration the actual real estate (which is not property, but is  under control or management or used within 90 days). Also, a  mechanism is being introduced, according to which the Commission for  the Prevention of Corruption will be able to require a declaration of  property and income of officials within two years after the end of  their powers, if there is a suspicion of a significant change in  property. The amendments propose to reduce the threshold for  expensive property from 8 million drams to 4 million drams. It is  also proposed to expand the list of persons who will be required to  submit income declarations, in particular, for secretaries of  community offices, as well as members of councils of elders in  communities with a population of 15 thousand or more people, while  the population threshold has been removed for community leaders. In  addition, the opportunity is given to independently amend the  declaration within 4 days, and in addition, it is possible to check  the data in connection with criminal subcultures.