Vigen Kocharyan receives representatives of Observation Mission of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe

Today, Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia Vigen Kocharyan received the representatives of the Observation Mission of the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe led by Head of the Mission Lisa Ansala, who arrived in Yerevan on 11-15 May to conduct an observation mission during the elections of the Mayor of Yerevan and of the Council of Elders.

The representatives of the Observation Mission stated that, during these elections they aim to observe the practical application of legal regulations provided for by the new Electoral Code of the Republic of Armenia in the elections of local self-government bodies.

Vigen Kocharyan presented to the members of the Mission the main improvements in the Electoral Code, in particular, supervision of the electoral process through voters’ fingerprints, live broadcast from electoral precincts and publication of the signed voters' lists.

Upon request of the representatives of the Mission, the Deputy Minister of Justice touched upon the parliamentary elections and the experience of applying the new regulations in the process thereof.

At the end of the meeting, Vigen Kocharyan — at the wish of the members of the observation mission — also presented the activities carried out by the Ministry in the fight against corruption, namely criminalisation of illicit enrichment, steps taken towards the creation of an independent anti-corruption body, improvement of the declaration process, limitation of cash flow, expansion of the scope of persons submitting declarations, introduction of the institution of whistle-blowers, etc.