From 1 January 2024, out of preliminary investigation bodies, only the Investigative and Anti-Corruption Committees to remain

The National Assembly approved the legislative initiative to have two preliminary investigation bodies in the Republic of Armenia from 1 January 2024, according to which preliminary investigation will only be conducted by the Investigative and Anti-Corruption Committees, and the investigative subdivisions of the State Revenue Committee and the National Security Service will terminate their activities.

The change will be made in stages. The Investigation Department of the State Revenue Committee will continue to operate until 1 January 2023, and the Investigation Department of the National Security Service — until 1 January 2024.

In the presence of two investigative bodies, inter alia, additional guarantees have been envisaged for ensuring an impartial examination of cases by the superior prosecutor, and in exceptional cases, as a last resort — in the form of handing over the proceedings to another body by the Prosecutor General.

Within the framework of the amendments made to the laws, guarantees have been envisaged for investigators of the investigative bodies that terminate their activities. In particular, they have been given the opportunity to be transferred to the Investigative Committee, and in this case their previous work experience as an investigator will be counted together with their experience of holding a position in the Investigative Committee.

In case this model proposed by the Government is applied, it is envisaged to ensure unity of the principles of the activities of the preliminary investigation bodies and the co-ordination of the work.