Armenia’s Corruption Prevention Commission has described a statement by the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions as one-sided and incomplete.
The Corruption Prevention Commission has expressed concern and “bewilderment” over a statement issued on May 8 by the European Network of National Human Rights Institutions (ENNHRI), calling the assessment one-sided.
“The European Network of National Human Rights Institutions, in its statement issued on May 8 this year, addressed, among other issues, the compatibility of the powers of the Corruption Prevention Commission and the legislation defining them with the standards of independence of the Human Rights Defender.
“The law ‘On the Corruption Prevention Commission’ authorizes the Commission to examine applications concerning alleged violations of rules of conduct and conflicts of interest by public officials, including the Human Rights Defender. According to the statement, the Commission’s authority should not extend to the Human Rights Defender, given the legal guarantees of the latter’s independence,” the commentary said.
The Commission noted that it was particularly concerning that the conclusions reflected in the statement had been made without obtaining the CPC’s position.
The CPC emphasized that while it values the independence of the Human Rights Defender, it believes no public official should remain outside the integrity oversight system.
“While emphasizing the independence of the Human Rights Defender institution, the Commission nevertheless believes that Armenian legislation cannot be interpreted in such a way that applications related to compliance with integrity system requirements concerning any public official are not subject to examination by the authorized body and remain unanswered.
“The Commission, as an autonomous body, exercises the powers deriving from its anti-corruption mandate by monitoring compliance with integrity system requirements by all officials under its jurisdiction, including the Human Rights Defender,” the statement said.
The Commission also stressed that conducting proceedings cannot be regarded as pressure or interference in the work of any official.
“Accordingly, proceedings carried out by the Commission cannot under any circumstances be viewed as pressure on any public official or interference in their work. Moreover, the Commission’s authority to investigate alleged violations of rules of conduct and conflict-of-interest situations, as well as the range of officials subject to its review, derives from international anti-corruption best practices.
“At the same time, the Commission reaffirms its readiness to discuss possible improvements to sectoral legislation jointly with other interested institutions,” the statement added.
The European Network of National Human Rights Institutions had earlier expressed concern over Armenian legislation that it said contradicts international legal guarantees of the Human Rights Defender’s independence. The organization stated that legislation regulating the powers of Armenia’s Corruption Prevention Commission does not comply with constitutional and legislative guarantees protecting the ombudsman’s activities, nor with relevant international standards.
The statement also emphasized that unjustified interference in the ombudsman institution’s mandate and independence could endanger the rule of law.
