Polls conducted by a number of authorities showed a serious rise in the corruption level in Armenia over the last three years, Mr Varuzhan Hoktanyan, Executive Director, Transparency International Anti-corruption Center, told journalists Dec. 9.

“The polls show a rise in the corruption level over the few years – up to 49%. Fifty percent of the respondents think so. Only 15% of them pointed out downward tendencies. Among the most corrupt systems are education, police and the judicial system,” Hoktanyan said. He pointed out that the poll was conducted in 85 countries, with the education sector getting such a “distinguished position” in none of them.

Hoktanyan reported that the polls show a sharp decrease in the number of bribe givers. “Last year 43% of Armenian citizens had to give bribes, whereas only 22% this year,” he said.