Local governments in Armenia to work with Estonia on ramping up the fight against corruption

According to Armenia's Prosecutor General's Office, in 2023, a total of 31 local government officials were prosecuted for corruption-related offences in criminal cases investigated by the Anti-Corruption Committee. 

This represents the second-highest number of corruption cases by sector, after the police and defence sectors, indicating that corruption at the local level has not improved significantly in previous years. 

In addition, during 2024–2025, Armenia's Corruption Prevention Commission (CPC) held six municipal leaders accountable for failing to declare conflicts of interest related to public procurement. 

A collaboration between the Estonian Centre for International Development (ESTDEV) and Transparency International Estonia will focus on creating a system for Armenian local governments to apply Estonia's experience in corruption risk assessment. 

"Estonia has introduced a number of practical tools for preventing corruption risks, including a self-assessment platform for corruption risks in local governments. We are sharing this experience with our partners not as a one-size-fits-all solution, but as an approach that can be adapted to the needs of Armenian municipalities. We believe the best solutions emerge when partners exchange practical experience and learn from one another," said Kadri Org-Lilleväli, Transparency International Estonia's project manager. 

"International cooperation is not only about transferring knowledge, but also about building trust between partners. It is this trust that enables honest discussions about challenges, the sharing of effective solutions, and support for anti-corruption reforms so that corruption prevention becomes an integral part of everyday governance," she added. 

The project was officially launched at the end of June in Yerevan, where the Estonian ambassador to Armenia, Marge Mardisalu-Kahar, opened a two-day seminar that brought together representatives of five Armenian municipalities, along with Armenian and Estonian experts, to discuss practical approaches to assessing and preventing corruption at the local government level. 

The seminar marked the first major step toward helping Armenian communities assess corruption risks more systematically and effectively. 

Over the coming months, a corruption risk assessment questionnaire will be piloted in five Armenian municipalities using a methodology specifically adapted to the local context. 

Corruption undermines a vibrant civil society 

A strong and open civil society contributes to government transparency and accountability, reduces corruption, and helps public institutions operate more effectively and efficiently. 

"A strong civil society and transparent local governments are the foundation of democracy. We are pleased to work with our Armenian partners, who are committed to increasing openness, trust and accountability in their communities. The goal of Estonian development cooperation is not to provide ready-made solutions, but to share experience and support local leaders in implementing their own reforms," said Eva-Maria Liimets, ESTDEV's head of Democracy and Rule of Law.