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The draft law on Making Addenda and Amendments to the Constitutional Law Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia and the attached package of bills were debated in the second reading at the sitting of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs on March 6. It was moderated by the Committee Chair Vladimir Vardanyan.

According to the initiative, it was proposed to conduct the current study of integrity building in case of judges every four years, and in case of the other subjects - every three years. Currently, it is stipulated that the integrity building process will be carried out once six years after appointment to the position.

In the period of 2024-2027, those persons who did not undergo an integrity building study before the entry into force of the law will undergo the first current integrity building study in a certain order. And those persons who, before the entry into force of the initiative, underwent an integrity building study during their appointment, will undergo a current study in the general order: The term will be calculated from the calendar year following the last appointment.

The requirement for the publicity of the final parts of the conclusions of advisory nature of integrity building has been removed.

Technical improvements were also made.

The rapporteur answered the deputies’ questions, which referred to burdening the judges with additional obligations with the proposed regulations, the periodicity and content of the integrity building study of the officials, the full provision of the principles of the public service policy, etc.

The position of the co-rapporteur, the deputy Arpine Davoyan was voiced by the Committee Chair Vladimir Vardanyan. He noted that the initiative had been improved after undergoing significant amendments. Vladimir Vardanyan underlined that the Corruption Prevention Commission (CPC) checks a person’s integrity building, but cannot refer to the latter’s professional qualities and work duties.

The amended legislative package was endorsed.

In the second reading, the Committee also debated the draft law on Making Amendments and Addenda to the Law on State Property Management with the attached legislative package.

The RA Deputy Minister of Justice Karen Karapetyan said that after the first reading, the package was revised, the proposal of the Committee member Alkhas Ghazaryan was included in the draft.

The Committee endorsed the draft.