Activist says Armenia's law enforcement cannot tackle corruption alone

Armenia’s law enforcement system is unable to combat corruption on its own, political activist Nairi Sargsyan said on Wednesday, arguing that the issue requires deep, systemic reforms.

Speaking at an anti-corruption workshop organized by the AntiCor platform, Sargsyan, head of the I Am Armenia political initiative, said corruption should not be treated solely as a legal or law-enforcement problem. Instead, he called for a broader, interdisciplinary approach involving economists, psychologists, educators, and other experts to examine its underlying causes.

“Until we can accurately diagnose corruption, we will never be able to solve it,” Sargsyan told reporters. He added that because human needs are unlimited while resources are finite, corruption and bribery are inevitable.

To address the problem, Sargsyan said Armenia must move toward technocratic governance and develop a professional, institutionalized system within its state structures.

“The law enforcement system alone cannot fight corruption,” he said. “The media cannot remain alone on that battlefield and fight either.”

Sargsyan also criticized officials who lack the professional skills or experience needed for government roles, saying they serve five-year terms with little chance of finding work afterward. He argued that this often pushes them to use their time in office to amass wealth.

“They know that after five years they will be out of office without demand in the labor market, without a profession, without a place to realize themselves,” he said. “So what do they do? They spread five years’ worth of income over the rest of their lives. That means being dissatisfied with their salary, abusing their position and constantly accumulating wealth to maintain the lifestyle they had while in office.”