Notice: What gifts are considered as permissible for a judge?

Pursuant to the Constitutional Law "Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia'' and the Constitutional Law ''On the Constitution Court'', gifts permissible for a judge shall be considered as the gifts usually given during public or ceremonial events, gifts given as part of everyday hospitalities, where they, by their nature, correspond to gifts usually given in everyday hospitalities, gifts received from a close relative, gifts received from a kinsperson, where the nature and amount of the gift reasonably correspond to the nature of the relationships between them.

Where a judge has received gifts not considered as permissible or considered as permissible (except for gifts received from a close relative), which are received from the same person and the value of which exceeds one hundred thousand Armenian drams or exceeds four hundred thousand Armenian drams during a calendar year and assessed by the Disciplinary Commission as not permissible, the judge shall be obliged to return it or pay an equivalent compensation to the giver of the gift within a period of one week following receipt of the gift. Where the gift cannot be returned or compensated equivalently within the specified time period, the judge shall be obliged to transfer it to the Committee of State Property Management within a period of one week following receipt of the gift.

Further disposal of property transferred to the Committee of State Property Management shall be carried out as prescribed by Decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia No 146-N of 18 February 2010 "On approving the procedure for using the gift — not considered as permissible — having been confiscated, recognised as ownerless in favour of the state, tangible and monetary property transferred by a judge to the state by the right of inheritance and for transferring, registering and destructing thereof and on repealing Decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia No 494 of 4 August 1999".