AntiCor founder claims systemic corruption in Armenia has worsened

Systemic corruption in Armenia has reached a “dangerous level”, according to Arsen Babayan, founder of the AntiCor anti-corruption platform and a lawyer.

Speaking to reporters at the opening of a workshop on corruption prevention on Wednesday, Babayan dismissed government claims that systemic corruption does not exist in the country.

“Systemic corruption exists today at far more serious and dangerous levels,” Babayan said, adding that the issue would be addressed during the workshop.

He argued that some officials define corruption too narrowly, limiting it to cases of bribery, such as paying money to a public servant, or portraying systemic corruption only as schemes in which senior officials directly receive a share.

“The version of systemic corruption they describe, which they claim does not exist, cannot be conclusively proven,” Babayan said. “But the same was true in the past – it was also impossible to conclusively prove it then.”

Asked about the practice of awarding officials millions of drams in bonuses as part of anti-corruption efforts, Babayan said the issue would be addressed by at least two speakers during the workshop.

The event is organized by the AntiCor platform, which has been operating for four months. It has brought together public figures, politicians, media workers, bloggers and human rights activists, who are expected to discuss corruption risks in their sectors and possible countermeasures.