On the occasion of the 105^th anniversary of the establishment of the Prosecutor's Office and the Day of the employee of the Prosecutor's Office, a high-level conference "Prosecutorial Independence In Upholding the Rule of Law" was held today.

The conference was organized within the framework of the 2023-2027 programme “Partnership for Good Governance”, co-funded by the European Union and the Council of Europe, and implemented by the Council of Europe.

The event was attended by the RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, the RA President Vahagn Khachaturyan, the Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, President of the Constitutional Court Arman Dilanyan, Human Rights Defender Anahit Manasyan, the President of the Supreme Judicial Council Karen Andreasyan, RA Deputy Prime Ministers Mher Grigoryan and Tigran Khachatryan, the leadership of RA state and law enforcement authorities, high-level officials and experts of the Council of Europe and member states, as well as heads of accredited diplomatic missions in Armenia and high-level officials of the Prosecutor General’s Offices of European countries who had arrived in Armenia to participate in the conference.

The Prime Minister of the Republic delivered a welcome speech at the conference and congratulated all the employees of the Prosecutor's Office, under the leadership of RA Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan, on the occasion of the professional day. The Prime Minister Pashinyan emphasized that the greatest expectation in the Republic of Armenia was and continued to be justice in all sectors. The Prime Minister expressed gratitude to the prosecutors for the work done by them and noted the Public Prosecutor's Office was at the forefront of people's expectation of a just society, between the courts and investigative bodies. "We hope and are convinced that this mission will be fulfilled" - the Prime Minister emphasized.

The RA Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan expressed gratitude to the colleagues of the Council of Europe and the European Union for the joint activity in similar format and expressed confidence that the interaction would be continuous and would prove its effectiveness.

Anna Vardapetyan, in particular, noted:

"Dear prosecutor colleagues, employees of the Prosecutor's Office,

I congratulate you all on the occasion of the professional day. This short but intense period of joint work gives me a ground to claim that the Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia has the necessary potential to be a locomotive for combating crime and strengthening the rule of law.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia has the will to implement substantive reforms within it, which inevitably lead to external image changes.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia has consciousness to distinguish manipulations, double standards, patronage and corruption compromises from state and public interest, mercy and humanity towards a person who committed a crime, slipped, but actually repented, recovered the damage caused by his act.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia has the strength to be a barrier to those persons and their so-called intercessors and mediators who dare to encroach on the public good, the Armenian army, public health, vulnerable groups, minors, regardless of their position, connections, position and financial capabilities.

The Prosecutor's Office of the Republic of Armenia has the honesty to retrospectively assess the past 105-year history and has the faith to serve honestly for the sake of the realization of current and future goals.

Dear Mr. Prime Minister,

I express my gratitude to you for attending the event dedicated to the 105^th anniversary of the Prosecutor's Office. With your presence, you once again emphasized your support to the commitment of the Prosecutor's Office to uphold justice and the rule of law."

Mr. Bjørn Berge, the Deputy Secretary General of the Council of Europe, delivered a video message at the conference and noted that the conference was an important opportunity to share experience and best practices in identifying and overcoming challenges related to the independence of prosecutors.

The President of the Republic of Armenia Vahagn Khachaturyan also congratulated the prosecutors on the occasion of the Day of the employee of Prosecutor's Office and the 105^th anniversary of the establishment of the Prosecutor's Office in Armenia and emphasized that the role of the Prosecutor's Office was invaluable in the protection and strengthening of legality and legal order in the Republic of Armenia, considering the impartial and responsible contribution of each employee necessary for solving problems.

During the event, President Vahagn Khachaturyan's decrees on awarding class ranks and state awards to a number of employees of the Prosecutor's Office were published.

By the President’s decrees:

• A class rank of Third Class State Councillor of Justice was conferred on the RA Prosecutor General Anna Vardapetyan.

• A class rank of Third Class State Councillor of Justice was conferred on the RA Deputy Prosecutor General, RA Military Prosecutor, First Class Councillor of Justice Grigor Elizbaryan.

• A class rank of Third Class State Councillor of Justice was conferred on the RA Deputy Prosecutor General, First Class Councillor of Justice Arthur Poghosyan.

• On the occasion of the Day of employee of the Prosecutor's Office, the President of the Republic awarded Mkhitar Ghosh medal to the Deputy Prosecutor General coordinating the sector of illegal property confiscation – Srbuhi Galyan, Deputy Prosecutor General - Lilit Grigoryan, Head of the Department for Crimes against Property - Armen Grigoryan, Head of the Department of Supervision over Legality of Penalties and Other Means of Compulsion – Levon Charkhifalakyan.

The Ambassador of the European Union to the Republic of Armenia, the Head of the Delegation, Andrea Victorin, congratulated all prosecutors on the occasion of the professional day and the 105^th anniversary of the establishment of the Prosecutor's Office and highlighted the importance of prosecutorial independence in the process of judicial reforms. According to the Ambassador, the EU supports democratic reforms in Armenia, strengthening the rule of law, promoting and protecting human rights and fundamental freedoms, as well as strengthening democracy and democratic values.

Ms. Lilit Daneghian, the Deputy Head of Co-operation Programmes Division, Department for the Implementation of Human Rights, Justice and Legal Co-operation Standards, DG I, Council of Europe also congratulated all prosecutors on the occasion of the professional day and emphasized that prosecutorial independence and accountability were indispensable components of having an effective system of criminal justice.

During the thematic panel discussions of the conference, reports were presented on the theme Prosecutorial External and Internal Independence by Mr. Antonio Vercher, Consultative Council of European Prosecutors (CCPE) President (2021-2022) and current member of the Bureau, Council of Europe Consultant, Mr. Giorgi Gogadze, the IAP Vice-President, Mr. Luigi Salvato, the General Attorney at the Italian Supreme Court, Mr, Irakli Shotadze, the Prosecutor General of Georgia, Mr. Emilijo Kalabrić, Deputy General State Attorney of Croatia and Mrs Nida Grunskienė, Prosecutor General of Lithuania.