Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan has reaffirmed the Armenian government’s commitment to fighting corruption, saying that the vision of a corruption-free state remains an absolute priority. Speaking at an event marking Anti-Corruption Committee Employee Day and the fifth anniversary of the Committee’s establishment, Pashinyan congratulated its Chairman Artur Nahapetyan and the Committee’s staff, thanking them for their work. “The Anti-Corruption Committee’s work is becoming increasingly visible in Armenia,” Pashinyan said, noting that the growing number of reported corruption cases does not necessarily indicate an increase in corruption but rather reflects a more determined approach to combating it. The Prime Minister recalled that the Anti-Corruption Committee was established in 2021, despite the challenging security and external environment at the time, emphasizing that the government remained committed to implementing its anti-corruption strategy. “We are not pretending to fight corruption; we are genuinely fighting corruption, and this is truly a matter of principle for us. The vision of a corruption-free state is an absolute priority for us,” he said. Pashinyan also pointed to economic indicators, stating that Armenia’s state budget revenues in 2025 were more than double those of 2017, representing a 135% increase. He described this as one of the results of the government’s anti-corruption policy. The Prime Minister stressed that corruption prevention remains the government’s primary objective, while cases of corruption that have already been identified must be thoroughly investigated and those responsible held accountable. He also addressed concerns over the quality of corruption investigations, noting that judicial representatives have raised questions about cases being sent to court without sufficient investigative quality. Pashinyan said that Nahapetyan’s previous experience as an appellate court judge was among the reasons for his appointment, adding that he had asked the Committee chairman to examine investigations from a judge’s perspective as well. The Prime Minister argued that cases ending in acquittals should be properly explained to the public, so that it is clear whether the original criminal proceedings were unfounded, the investigation was inadequate, the prosecution made mistakes, or the court’s decision was questionable. He said he would propose to Armenia’s Prosecutor General’s Office and representatives of the judiciary establishing a mechanism to clarify the reasons behind such outcomes. Pashinyan also addressed electoral corruption, including vote-buying, the misuse of administrative resources and pressure on voters, describing such practices as absolutely unacceptable. “The free expression of the political will of the citizens of the Republic of Armenia is a fundamental and absolute value for us and must be protected by all possible means,” he said. At the end of the event, Pashinyan presented awards to a group of Anti-Corruption Committee officers in recognition of their contribution to strengthening law and order and the rule of law.