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In 2022, reforms were carried on in the judicial system, fight against corruption, compulsory execution, criminal justice, criminal probation and a number of other spheres. The RA Minister of Justice Grigor Minasyan said this introducing the report on the process and results of the Government’s project implementation of the Republic of Armenia (2021-2026) for 2022 at the sitting of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs on March 13.

A modern lie detector - polygraph - has been acquired and is already in operation. A special equipment was also obtained for full investigation of documents, banknotes, handwritten notes and signatures.

In order to apply house arrest and administrative detention, the necessary means of electronic control were acquired, about 200 units to be worn on the hand or foot. According to the Minister, 70 similar decisions were made in the last 2-3 months, the system is working effectively.

According to the report, the works on the formation of the Anti-Corruption Court were completed in 2022. The Appellate Anti-Corruption Court was established, and in the Court of Cassation, instead of the Civil and Administrative Chambers, two separate Civil and Administrative Chambers were formed, as well as the new Anti-Corruption Chamber was created, ensuring the entire chain of three-level examination of anti-corruption cases.

Civil and criminal courts of first instance of general jurisdiction have been separated in the city of Yerevan. According to the Minister, a country with a population of 3 million needs 1000 judges, there are 300 judges in Armenia, there is an objective to increase the number of judges by 80-100.

The remuneration of the Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation judges has increased.

In order to replenish the judicial system with new professional staff, more flexible procedures for engaging judges have been designed.

It is planned to close 4 penitentiary institutions and build a new, modern penitentiary institution instead.

“Are there any unfulfilled provisions?” the MP Vigen Khachatryan inquired. Grigor Minasyan stated that in general, the project in the sector was implemented by 89-90 percent.

In response to the MP Arpine Davoyan’s question regarding completing range of beneficiaries of free legal aid, the Minister clarified that the range of persons entitled to free legal aid has been expanded by 3. In particular, contract servicemen and minors can use the service of the Public Defender. The number of public defenders increased by 10. There is an aim to increase the salary of public defenders.

The Committee took note of the report.