International high-level conference held in Armenia on 107th anniversary of Prosecutor's Office
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An international high-level conference dedicated to the 107th anniversary of the establishment of the Prosecutor’s Office of Armenia and the Day of the Prosecutor's Office Worker kicked off on July 1 in Dilijan.
The event is organized by the Prosecutor General’s Office of the Republic of Armenia within the framework of joint programs of the European Union and the Council of Europe.
The conference titled “Prosecutorial Independence and Impartiality in the Context of Launching Public Criminal Proceedings Against Officials Suspected of Crimes: Corruption and Money Laundering,” has brought together senior officials, legal experts, and representatives from international institutions.
Among the attendees were Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, senior officials from Armenia’s executive and judicial branches, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan Maxime Longangué, Deputy Director of the Legal Reforms and Human Rights Cooperation Programmes Division of the Council of Europe Lilit Daneghyan, and Tomislav Sertić, Head of the Economic Crime and Cooperation Division at the Council of Europe.
Also in attendance were the Prosecutors General of Lithuania and Malta, Nida Grunskiene and Victoria Buttigieg respectively, former President of the Advisory Council of European Prosecutors Jana Zezulová, and prosecutorial delegations from Austria, Greece, Poland, the Czech Republic, Eurojust, and the International Association of Prosecutors. Heads of diplomatic missions accredited to Armenia also participated.
Prime Minister Pashinyan congratulated prosecutors on their professional holiday and thanked them for their service. He emphasized the critical role of the law enforcement system in upholding peace, justice, and citizens’ well-being. “Corruption is one of the principal challenges of any society,” the Prime Minister stated, adding that his government maintains a policy of zero tolerance towards corruption. “It is essential not only to eliminate the consequences of corruption but also to uncover and address its root causes.”
Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan extended congratulations to all prosecutors and staff of the Prosecutor’s Office, highlighting the responsibility they bear. “We are responsible not only for ourselves, but also for the people around us and those who trust us. I wish you to fulfill your mission with a sense of duty, great responsibility, a straight back and a clear face,” she said.
Clare Ovey, Director for Human Rights at the Council of Europe, praised the organization of the conference and emphasized the vital role of prosecutors. “The stronger this cooperation, the weaker the impact of international organized crime on our continent,” she noted.
Vassilis Maragos, Head of the Delegation of the European Union to Armenia, called the conference “an important platform to reflect on priorities, achievements, and lessons learned.” He reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting Armenian state institutions in combating corruption and strengthening the rule of law, including through capacity-building for judiciary professionals.
The conference is organized within the framework of the projects “Support to the Implementation of Judicial and Legal Reforms in Armenia” and “Strengthening National Capacities for Effective Prevention and Combating Economic Crimes in Armenia,” co-financed by the European Union and the Council of Europe’s Partnership for Good Governance program and implemented by the Council of Europe.