Parliament tightens state tender restrictions

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia’s National Assembly has adopted final amendments to the law “On Procurement,” introducing restrictions on the participation of close relatives of state officials in public tenders.

Under the changes, companies whose founders or executives are close relatives of high-ranking officials will not be allowed to participate in state procurement competitions, Sputnik Armenia reported.

The restrictions apply to relatives of the president, National Assembly speaker, prime minister, deputy prime ministers and officials overseeing the public procurement sector, including the finance minister and the deputy minister responsible for the field.

The term “close relatives” includes spouses, parents, children, brothers, and sisters.

In addition, relatives of heads of separate state agencies and municipalities will be prohibited from participating in tenders organized by those institutions or subordinate organizations.

Armenia’s public procurement system has repeatedly faced criticism from both former and current opposition groups amid allegations of favoritism and patronage.