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On May 20-03, the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Fellow and the Project Manager of the “Introduction of the institute of beneficial ownership in RA with the aim of combatting corruption" project, Mariam Zadoyan has participated in a study tour in London, UK.
The aim of the study tour was getting cognizant with the legislation and practice on combating corruption. mainly in private sector, including topics of “Beneficial Ownership Registry”, “Stolen Asset Recovery” and “Anti-Corruption Compliance Programs”, establishing new business contacts, mapping of the stakeholders and etc.
Mariam Zadoyan had meetings both with state entities and NGOs, including a study tours at the London’s branch-office of the Companies House, which maintains the beneficial ownership register and at the Ministry of Justice, Crown’s Prosecutor Service, as well as meetings with the representatives of the “Transparency International United Kingdom” and “Open Ownership” NGOs.
Concerning the anti-corruption compliance mechanisms, during the meetings the participants presented that UK has foreseen offenses of criminal liability for legal persons and of failure of corruption prevention and the existence of anti-corruption compliance programs can be considered as a basis for exempting the liability.
Concerning the beneficial ownership, the participants of the meetings explained that UK is the 1st country to establish the register of beneficial owners, which is public. The main problem relates to the verification of submitted information but currently steps are being taken dedicated to the solution of the mentioned issue. Concerning the stolen asset recovery, during the meetings the mechanism of issuance of “Unexplained Wealth Orders” in a “in-rem” proceedings has been presented.
Mariam's Project is aimed at combating corruption, in particular, the introduction of the Register of Beneficial Owners in Armenia aimed at overcoming business and political cohesion. Within the framework of the program, among other activities, educational visits will be conducted to study the best international practices, as well as seminars for their ontroduction in Armenia, information sessions and seminar in public-private partnership format, as a result of which an appropriate anti-corruption policy will be presented to the Government of Armenia.
More about Mariam Zadoyan’s Fellowship program, https://fellows.eapcivilsociety.eu/zadoyan-mariam/
