A high-level international conference held on 1-2 July in Dilijan, Armenia, addressed the critical issue of prosecutorial independence and impartiality, particularly in the context of criminal prosecution of public officials for offences such as corruption and money laundering.

Organised by the Office of the Prosecutor General of the Republic of Armenia, in co-operation with the Council of Europe and the European Union, the event marked the 107th anniversary of the Armenian Prosecutor’s Office and Prosecution Service Day.

The conference brought together Armenian officials and international partners, including the Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, government representatives, judges, and law enforcement officials. The Council of Europe was represented by Maxime Longangué, Head of the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, Lilit Daneghian, Deputy Head of the Co-operation Programmes Division on Legal Reforms and Human Rights, and Tomislav Sertić, Head of Unit in the Economic Crime and Cooperation Division. Mr Tomasz Ostropolski, Deputy Head of Political Section, represented the European Union Delegation to Armenia.

International participants included the Prosecutors General of Lithuania and Malta, prosecutors from Austria, Greece, Poland, Czechia, the former President of the Consultative Council of European Prosecutors Jana Zezulova, and high-level representatives from Eurojust, the International Association of Prosecutors, and accredited diplomatic missions in Armenia.

Opening the conference, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan underlined the critical function of law enforcement in securing peace, justice, and prosperity. In this context he stated that, Corruption is one of the key problems that causes issues in multiple dimensions of any reality. “The government’s policy is to demonstrate zero tolerance towards corruption and corrupt practices, and we remain consistent in that path.”

Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan marked the occasion by thanking her colleagues for their dedication and reaffirming the importance of responsibility and integrity in their work: “We are responsible not only for ourselves but also for those around us and those who trust us. I want you to carry out your mission with a sense of duty, great responsibility, upright posture, and a clear conscience.” She also shared updates on Armenia’s asset recovery efforts. Since December 2024, 17.5 billion AMD in recovered funds have been transferred to a unified account, reflecting Armenia’s firm commitment to transparency, accountability, and the rule of law.

In a pre-recorded video message, Clare Ovey, Director of Human Rights at the Council of Europe, highlighted the importance of peer exchange in strengthening prosecutorial systems: “The role of prosecutors is complex, demanding, and of vital importance. That is why opportunities for peer-to-peer exchange – such as this conference – are so important. The stronger this co-operation becomes, the weaker the grip of transnational organised crime on our continent.”

Speaking on behalf of the EU Delegation to Armenia, Tomasz Ostropolski, emphasised the EU’s support: “This high-level conference is a useful platform for reflecting on priorities, achieved results and lessons learnt. The EU confirms its commitment to supporting national authorities in the fight against corruption and in strengthening the rule of law in Armenia through provision of project and policy support to key sector stakeholders.”

This was the third international conference jointly organised by the Prosecutor General’s Office of Armenia, the Council of Europe, and the European Union, which served to promote dialogue on European standards and best practices in ensuring prosecutorial independence, especially in politically sensitive cases, and to foster international cooperation in addressing challenges to the rule of law.

This event is part of the European Union and Council of Europe joint programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe and implemented by the Council of Europe, in the framework of the projects“Support to the Justice Reform in Armenia”, and “Enhancing National Capacities for Effective Prevention and Fight against Economic Crime in Armenia.”