In response to enquiries from representatives of the mass media, the Prosecutor’s Office clarifies that part 1 of Article 9 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Confiscation of Property of Illicit Origin” stipulates that the fact of initiating an examination, the grounds therefor, information concerning the course of the examination, and data obtained as a result thereof are confidential and may be provided to interested persons only in accordance with the procedure prescribed by this Law, and to other persons exclusively with the consent of the competent authority, taking into account the objectives of the proceedings for confiscation of property of illicit origin.

It follows from the provisions of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Confiscation of Property of Illicit Origin” that the data of persons in respect of whom decisions have been made not to initiate an examination become known to the competent authority through reports received from the sources provided for in Article 5 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Confiscation of Property of Illicit Origin”. Such reports constitute grounds for initiating or not initiating an examination, and, pursuant to part 1 of Article 9 of the Law of the Republic of Armenia “On Confiscation of Property of Illicit Origin”, those grounds are confidential.

At the same time part 1 of Article 33 of the same Law stipulates that the competent authority shall publish an annual report on initiated confiscation proceedings and their results, while observing the obligation to ensure the confidentiality of data as prescribed by this Law and other legal acts.

In other words, the obligation to summarize and publish the results of the application of the Law applies to initiated confiscation proceedings and their results.