YEREVAN, NOVEMBER 6, NOYAN TAPAN. According to the studies of the Transparency International conducted in 169 countries of the world, Armenia is among countries with a high level of corruption. Amalia Kostanian, Chairwoman of the Center for Regional Development of Transparency International Armenia NGO, declared at the November 6 press conference within the framework of the Actual Subject program of the National Press Club. She explained that according to used methods, calculation of corruption level starts from one point, i.e. the most corrupted are the countries where this index is close to one. It is two years running that the index of corruption in Armenia is "2.9," which, in A.Kostanian's words, is evidence of failure of fighting corruption announced by the country's authorities. "In spite of anti-corruption laws adopted in the country, signing of a number of conventions in this sphere, fighting corruption in Armenia has an imitation character. No high-ranking official was punished for taking bribe during the three years of official fighting corruption and, which is the most important, on the threshold of elections the authorities bear no responsibility for factual failure of this fight," A.Kostanian declared. She especially dwelt upon such problem as political corruption, the brightest manifestation of which is falsifications during elections. Besides, manifestations of political corruption are also creation of unequal conditions for agitation during electoral campaign, electoral bribes, etc. As regards the recent statement of the Freedom House international human rights organization containing appeal for the Millennium Challenge corporation for ceasing to provide aid to a number of countries, including Armenia, in connection with not ensuring political rights and civil freedoms, A.Kostanian did not exclude that aid to Armenia within the framework of the above mentiond program can be "frozen" provided that normal elections be held in Armenia.

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