Grigor Minasyan receives delegation led by Chairwoman of the Committee on Legal Affairs of the German Bundestag Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker

Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan received the delegation led by Chairwoman of the Committee on Legal Affairs of the German Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker. Grigor Minasyan expressed his greetings to the representatives of the Committee on Legal Affairs of the German Bundestag of the Federal Republic of Germany and Chargé d'Affaires of the Federal Republic of Germany in the Republic of Armenia Erik Tintrup. The Minister highly appreciated the close co-operation with the Federal Republic of Germany in the legal sector which is particularly carried out through the projects that are implemented by the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ) and the German Foundation for International Legal Cooperation (IRZ) in the Republic of Armenia. Grigor Minasyan informed his colleagues about the activities for drafting the new Constitution, attaching importance to the German experience in this area. The reforms in the judicial sector, the anti-corruption field and the penitentiary and probation sectors were also touched upon during the meeting. The parties particularly discussed issues related to the public perception of the reforms agenda and the formation of democratic institutions. In this regard, Grigor Minasyan thoroughly presented the legal and institutional framework for preventing and countering corruption in Armenia as he touched upon the three-tier judicial system, the scope of powers and activities of the Anti-Corruption Committee and of the Corruption Prevention Commission. Grigor Minasyan emphasised that in 2023 the new 2023-2026 Anti-Corruption Strategy and Action Plan were adopted, and they were developed with the active participation of all interested parties, including civil society representatives. The activities for the construction of a new penitentiary institution based on the German model were also discussed. The colleagues also inquired about the specifics of the institution of detention in Armenia and its regulations, as well as the institutions for the application of new measures of restraint, particularly house arrest and administrative supervision. In this context, the Minister, presenting the current legislative framework, attached importance to the practice of applying alternative measures of restraint, noting that the house of arrest or administrative supervision measures of restraint are already being applied against nearly 700 people. The parties also considered the agenda for increase in efficiency of the judicial community and digitisation. The Minister touched upon over ten electronic platforms developed and being developed in the justice system in co-operation with international partners, including the civil procedure that have been fully digitised starting from 1 February 2024, and the digitised mechanisms for compulsory mediation and payment orders. Ms Elisabeth Winkelmeier-Becker expressed gratitude for the meeting and the thoroughly provided information. She highly appreciated the reforms that the Ministry of Justice has undertaken in Armenia, as a country with a developing democracy, and the role that the Ministry of Justice plays as the primary government agency for citizens to exercise their rights. Winkelmeier-Becker emphasised that the projects for reforms and modernisation, which are carried out by the Ministry of Justice, particularly the justice system digitisation programmes, may even set an example for many countries across Europe. Summing up the discussion, the parties expressed willingness to consider the opportunities for expansion of the co-operation between the German Bundestag and the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia and to continue the exchange of information upon necessity.