On May 11 the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs organized parliamentary hearings, where representatives of RA Justice Ministry, RA Police, RA Prosecutor’s Office, State Revenue Committee adjunct to RA Government, media and NGOs participated. They discussed the package of the draft laws on Making Addenda RA Customs Code and on Making Addenda in RA Civil Code.

Opening the parliamentary hearings Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Mr. Davit Harutyunyan noted that the aim of the hearings is to have a distinct picture what administrative, legislative and organizational steps are necessary for finding best solutions in the stolen transportation means being imported to Armenia.

In his main speech RA Justice Minister Mr. Gevorg Danielyan noted that the aim of the amendments being proposed by the legislative package is the import of the stolen cars to the territory of the republic.

By the amendments to the bill on Making Addenda in RA Civil Code the cases will be clarified when the owner of the car denies the right to the property towards the car.

Chairman of RA NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Mr. Davit Harutyunyan touched upon in his report the protection of civil interests, who were in the status of the victim, followed the legislative process of relevant country, bought a car and appeared in an absurd state in Armenia. Mr. Harutyunyan is sure that we shall solve the problem of the protection of the citizens’ interests in Armenia, at the same time not allowing make the country a target of circulation of stolen cars. Speaking about the right of property to the moveable property and quoting the international legislation of the sphere Mr. Harutyunyan clarified that getting moveable property the person does not become an owner, but he can be an honest obtainer, though the real owner’s rights are not suspended. In order to clarify the indefinite situation different countries enter new terms, and if within those terms the owner does not appear, in the committee chairman’s opinion, the property can be circulated. He believes in this issue that the state shall try to find the owner and notify, and in the further turnover try to warn the persons related to the property in the country, not limiting the export or the property turnover in the republic.

Deputy head of RA Police Mr. Hovhannes Hunanyan said that during 2004-2008 were discovered 216 cars in search and 123 cars are “re-stamped.”

Deputy head of RA Police Mr. Karen Babkekhyan said that it’s impossible to clarify especially the real secret number of the cars of old make, the checking phase lasts 5 months.

It was noted that there were applications-complaints: the citizens demanded to recognize the right of their property towards the imported cars. Head of the department of RA Prosecutor General’s Office Mr. Armen Ashrafyan underscored that a special procedure of registration of cars is worked out, the use of which will prevent the import of stolen cars. The Prosecutor General’s Office highlights the proposal of the legislative amendments.

The NA deputies gave speeches related to that issue. Mr. Artak Davtyan proposes to fix the ad-hoc declaration by law, not allowing make the car an object of loan. In Mr. Styopa Safaryan’s opinion, the weakening of preventive mechanisms in the sphere will mean to enable the criminal groups, who are involved in importing the stolen cars to act freely, which he considers inadmissible.

In his concluding speech RA Justice Minister Mr. Gevorg Danielyan touched upon the sounded interpellations and presented his positions.

At the end the Chairman of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Mr. Davit Harutyunyan proposed to register the stolen car and note in the documents that is re-stamped and has drawbacks. In the context of the protection of the citizen’s rights Mr. Harutyunyan highlighted the provision of consultation regarding the evasion of such situations in the public field. As he assessed, instituting the criminal case should be the conceptual function of the police. He said that the committee would discuss and submit proposals and remarks to the government.