Unburdening of courts, digital justice, reforms in penitentiary institutions — Grigor Minasyan presents programmes implemented in 2023

During the session of the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on State and Legal Affairs, Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan presented the Report “On the progress and outcomes of implementation of the Programme of the Government of the Republic of Armenia (2021-2026) in 2023". Talking about the changes made in the judicial and legal system in 2023, the Minister attached importance to the fact that some cases of confiscation of amounts not exceeding AMD 2 million were reserved for notaries public, as a result of which civil courts have been significantly unburdened; it is expected to make the unburdening reach 70-80%. The scope of issues considered through written procedure has been expanded in civil, administrative and bankruptcy proceedings; the function of returning a statement of claim due to technical flaws has been reserved for the Court staff, which has simplified the process of correcting documents. During 2023, the salaries of judges were increased, which made it possible to fill the vacancies of judges. Grigor Minasyan emphasised that effective and significant progress has been made in the area of digitisation. On 1 February 2024, the electronic platform of civil proceedings was put into operation, through which 850 statements of claim have already been inscribed. Electronic systems for bankruptcy and mediation will also be put into operation very soon. The system of inscribing court cases electronically has been improved, due to which the complexity of cases is also taken as a basis for inscribing court cases, and it is impossible to predict which judge will examine a particular court case. Compulsory enforcement proceedings have also been fully digitised. The Minister of Justice mentioned that the reforms implemented in 2023 as part of the fight against corruption have been highly appreciated by the international community. Out of the nine performance areas included in the OECD Baseline Report of the Fifth Round of Monitoring of Anti-Corruption Reforms in Armenia, the Anti-Corruption Policy was scored the highest, Armenia is no longer in the non-compliance process of GRECO evaluation and is already considered as a country with satisfactory performance. A new Anti-Corruption Strategy has been adopted in the conditions of exceptional consensus of sector-specific experts and the public. During 2023, the legal mechanisms for the whistle-blowing system were improved, the types of whistle-blowing system were expanded, and a nationwide campaign was launched, resulting in the increase of quantitative and qualitative indicators of whistle-blowing by about 80%. The scope of declarant officials has been expanded, legislative regulations on conflict of interest, incompatibility requirements and other restrictions have been clarified. Touching upon the Probation Service, the Minister noted that starting from 1 January 2023, a court can apply "house arrest" and "administrative supervision". Currently, about 900 people are subject to these types of measure of restraint. Mobile transport offices have been acquired for the Probation Service and the Compulsory Enforcement Service and are operating. Reforms and renovation works have also been carried out in penitentiary institutions, and the performance evaluation system has been introduced. Educational programmes have been implemented for persons deprived of liberty; about 150 individuals have participated in the programmes. Grigor Minasyan noted that the 2023-2025 Action Plan of the National Strategy on Human Rights Protection and the package of amendments to the Electoral Code have been considered with stakeholders, civil society and the Venice Commission, and have been adopted. The new Arbitration and Mediation Centre of Armenia (AMCA) has been founded and is operating, with 1,000 legal persons using the services. Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan also answered the questions of Deputies and journalists.