System of confiscation of illegal assets is one of the most important tools and means of ongoing anti-corruption fight: Prime Minister

On July 1, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan participated in an international conference dedicated to the Foundation Day of the Prosecutor's Office of the  Republic of Armenia. According to the government press service, the  conference focused on criminal prosecution and the recovery of  illegally acquired assets. The event was attended by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, representatives from the legislative and executive branches, Hanna Juncker (Director of the Council of Europe's Directorate for  Security, Integrity, and Rule of Law), heads of diplomatic missions, and international experts.

In his address, the Prime Minister congratulated the Prosecutor's Office and highlighted the value of the international format for  sharing experiences. "Legislation and rights are evolving," the Prime Minister noted. "The more actively we interact internationally, the  more effective we will be in establishing justice and equality, ensuring that national expectations become a reality."

Addressing the conference's focus on the confiscation of illicit  assets, the Prime Minister clarified a common misconception: "There  is a general belief that this institution is aimed solely at former officials. However, this is incorrect. This system is a vital tool  in our current anti-corruption fight. It sends a clear signal to  current officials that illegitimate asset accumulation is untenable  and that they must anticipate the consequences of such actions. It is  one of the most important pillars of the government's anti-corruption policy."

The Prime Minister expressed concern over anti-corruption rankings,  emphasizing that the government cannot tolerate stagnation. He  reiterated that the administration and the parliamentary majority  prioritize a comprehensive package of democratic reforms to renew and  restart the legal process. In this context, Pashinyan underscored the need to build a public consensus regarding justice and impartiality.  "I have observed that in our society, there is no shared  understanding of what justice and fairness mean. In my view, justice  must be viewed exclusively through the lens of legitimacy, as that  which best corresponds to legitimacy is also most consistent with  justice. There is only one source of legitimacy: the sovereign people  of the Republic of Armenia."

Pashinyan argued that a disconnect exists between legal mentality  and social psychology, where justice is often separated from the will  of the people. He noted that while institutions should be constrained  by law, the current Armenian model requires two key shifts: fully  establishing the legitimacy of the constitutional order—derived from  the free expression of the people—and implementing serious reforms in  legal education.

The Prime Minister concluded by addressing the public's demand for  accountability. "To establish justice, we have largely addressed the issues raised before the government. We must continue to explain to  the public that our decisions are made for the people, not for  officials. Currently, justice in Armenia is still perceived as  accessible primarily to elites with money and connections, which is a  fundamental problem we must solve."

Addressing the judicial system directly, the Prime Minister warned  that it has little time to answer the questions raised by the public  and recent election cycles. "If these questions remain unanswered, it  implies that the judicial system is hindering the search for truth. This is a political situation that must be resolved through political  means, though I hope that a reliable foundation for reform has now  formed within the judiciary."

Pashinyan expressed hope that the conference, with the support of  international partners, would yield concrete solutions while ensuring  all processes remain aligned with Armenia's international obligations. He concluded by expressing his support for prosecutors  who are committed to establishing justice based on the sovereignty  and legitimacy of the Armenian people.