STATUTE OF THE AGENCY FOR PROTECTION OF PERSONAL DATA
OF THE MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF THE REPUBLIC OF ARMENIA

I. GENERAL PROVISIONS

1.   The Agency for Protection of Personal Data (hereinafter referred to as "the Agency") of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter referred to as "the Ministry") is a separate subdivision of the Ministry, which shall provide services in the sphere of protection of personal data in cases prescribed by law and in certain cases — also by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, acting on behalf of the Republic of Armenia.

2.   The Agency shall be established, reorganised and its activities shall be terminated upon decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia. The Agency shall act in accordance with its Statute, which is approved by the Government of the Republic of Armenia upon submission by the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter referred to as "the Minister").

3.   The powers of the Agency shall be defined by the international treaties of the Republic of Armenia, the laws of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the decisions of the Government of the Republic of Armenia.

4.   The Agency shall carry out its activities in conformity with the legislation and other legal acts of the Republic of Armenia.

5.   The Agency shall have the right to acquire and exercise property rights and personal non-property rights, bear responsibilities, and act as a plaintiff or respondent in court on behalf of the Republic of Armenia in cases provided for by law or other legal acts.

6.   The Agency shall have a round seal, forms, a symbol and other identification means with the image of the Coat of Arms of the Republic of Armenia and with the inscription of the name of the Agency in Armenian.

II. GOALS AND OBJECTIVES OF THE AGENCY

7.   The goals and objectives of the Agency shall be:

(1)  to ensure maintenance of the registry for those processing personal data;

(2)  to ensure protection of the rights of subjects of relations connected with the protection of personal data;

(3)  to ensure, within the scope of its competence, lawful processing of personal data.

III. FUNCTIONS OF THE AGENCY

8.   The Agency shall carry out functions provided for by the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On protection of personal data" for the purpose of implementing its goals and objectives.

IV. MANAGEMENT OF THE AGENCY

9.   The Agency is managed by the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia (hereinafter referred to as "the Minister"). The direct administration of the Agency shall be carried out by the Head of the Agency who is appointed to and removed from office by the Law of the Republic of Armenia "On protection of personal data". In course of his or her activities, the Head of the Agency shall be guided by the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia, the international treaties of the Republic of Armenia, the laws of the Republic of Armenia, the decisions of the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Statutes of the Ministry and the Agency, as well as other legal acts.

10. The Head of the Agency shall be responsible for exercising the powers of an authorised body for protection of personal data.

11.  The Head of the Agency shall be accountable to the Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia, the Minister, the corresponding Deputy Minister coordinating the activities of the Agency and — in cases provided for by the civil service legislation of the Republic of Armenia — also to the Chief of Staff of the Ministry.

12.  In case of absence of the Head of the Agency he or she shall be substituted by one of the Heads of Department of the Agency upon recommendation of the Head of the Agency.

13.  The Head of the Agency:

(1)  shall manage the current activities of the Agency, shall be responsible for the implementation of the objectives and functions set for the Agency;

(2)  shall submit to the Minister or his or her corresponding deputy recommendations relating to spheres of activity, goals and objectives of the Agency provided for by law, other legal acts and this Statute;

(3)  shall issue orders and give instructions within the scope of his or her competences, shall act on behalf of the Republic of Armenia and of the Agency without a letter of attorney, as well as shall issue letters of attorney to act on behalf of the Agency, including letters of attorney with the power of sub-delegation;

(4)  shall submit to the Minister or his or her corresponding deputy information about the process of activities being carried out by the Agency;

(5)  shall ensure the fulfilment of the orders and instructions of the Minister, as well as the instructions, assignments and tasks of the corresponding deputy and shall inform the Minister or his or her corresponding deputy about the results;

(6)  shall define the powers of the structural subdivisions of the Agency, in conformity with the Statutes of the Ministry and the Agency;

(7) shall listen to the annual reports on the activities of the structural subdivisions of the Agency, shall discuss the results of the inspection of the activities thereof;

(8)  shall control the protection of state ownership granted to the structural subdivisions of the Agency for use;

(9)  shall submit to the Minister recommendations for the structure and number of employees of the Agency;

(10) shall, within the scope of his or her powers, cooperate with state administration bodies, local self-government bodies and other bodies and persons;

(11) shall exercise other powers envisaged by law, other legal acts and this Statute.

V. ORGANISING WORKS OF THE AGENCY

14.  The Staff of the Ministry shall ensure the complete and effective implementation of powers reserved for the Agency by law, other legal acts, the Statute of the Ministry and this Statute, as well as the participation thereof in civil relations.

15.  The Agency shall have structural subdivisions. The employees of the Agency shall be civil servants who are appointed to and removed from office as prescribed by the civil service legislation of the Republic of Armenia.

16. The procedure and terms for reorganisation of the Agency and termination of activities thereof shall be established by law and other legal acts.

8.   "Expertise Centre" SNCO

The "Expertise Centre of the Republic of Armenia" State Non-Commercial Organisation is one of the leading organisations of the Republic of Armenia in the sphere of provision of services for the implementation of expert examinations. It has been carrying out its activities for half a century. The Centre was created as a result of reorganisation of the "Expertise Centre of the Ministry of Justice of the Republic of Armenia" state institution upon the Decision of the Government of the Republic of Armenia of 28 November 2002. However, the Centre was established in 1959 as a scientific-research laboratory for criminalistics at Yerevan State University upon the Decision of the Council (Soviet) of Ministers of Armenian SSR, which was also performing the function of implementing judicial expert examinations. The goals of the Centre are: -development of expertise; -organising and performance of expert examinations, other scientific-research, scientific-technical, scientific-methodical activities; -coordination of research methodologies, development of new methodologies, experimentation thereof and guaranteeing for activities; -training and improvement of specialists in the field of expertise, as well as granting of qualification as prescribed. Based on the indicated goals, the Centre shall carry out the following activities: (a) performs expert examinations on contractual basis (within the scope of criminal, administrative and civil proceedings and other expert examinations), scientific, scientific-methodical research and scientific-technical works, organising the implementation thereof through involvement of its in-house and freelance employees, as well as, if necessary, through involvement of other specialists or through cooperation with other entities on contractual basis; (b) coordinates the research methodologies for expertise, drafts, experiments new methodologies and guarantees them for use; (c) summarises the practice of expertise and, on the basis of that, drafts methodological instructions and submits the recommendations of relevant organisations regarding the elimination of reasons and conditions contributing to the committal of violations of the law; (d) organises and carries out methodical and practical assistance in regard to expertise, gives clarifications of methodological nature and performs consulting; (e) prepares, publishes and sells handbooks, reference books, monographs, collections and other works relating to expertise; (f) develops plans for perspective development of expertise and submits them to the state administration body authorised by the Government of the Republic of Armenia; (g) trains and improves specialists in the sphere of judicial expertise and certifies their qualification in the prescribed manner; (h) establishes direct bilateral and multilateral relations with organisations and specialists of the Republic of Armenia and relevant foreign organisations and specialists, holds joint events, organises conferences, scientific consultations, seminars, participates in similar events organised by other organisations, carries out exchange of internships and of experience; (i) carries out measures aimed at improving the social and living requirements of its employees; The Centre shall be managed by the Government of the Republic of Armenia, the Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia, as well as the Director of the Centre acting as the executive body of the Centre. 

 Personal data protection law.

 Annual Report  October 2015 - January 2016