Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer reports on 2017 activities and the planned actions in 2018

During a working meeting with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Head of Judicial Acts Compulsory Enforcement Service (JACES) Armen Harutyunyan reported on the activities and the electronic auction sales carried out in 2017, the planned improvements in specific areas, the amounts recovered in the period under review, the complaints and appeals received from citizens, the steps taken to address them and the key events scheduled for 2018. Reference was also made to the systemic improvements carried out by the JACES on the basis of best international practices.

In particular, the Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer reported that AMD 26 742 071 800 was redeemed in 2017 through property and non-property enforcement proceedings, which stands for a 23.4% increase against the index of 2016. During the reporting period, the Service processed 1 599 389 enforcement proceedings. This figure exceeds the 2016 index by 4.9%.

Armen Harutyunyan presented the efforts aimed at improving the electronic auction process. The Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer reported that with the purpose of reducing corruption risks in electronic auctions, the Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer issued ordinances last year to streamline the discretionary powers vested in the compulsory enforcement officer and introduce additional mechanisms to ensure greater transparency in property sales. In addition, a new payment system was introduced in February, 2017 for electronic auction participants. According to Armen Harutyunyan, the number of electronic auction participants rose in 2017, which is the evidence of increased transparency and interest in the auction process.

The President was also presented the results of regular and selective internal inspections of enforcement proceedings. The Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer reported a number of innovations through the use of information technology, including the launch of the citizens’ online registration system in the Prompt-Response Office of JACES.

During the working meeting, the Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer briefed the President on the activities carried out in 2017 to raise citizens’ awareness of new functions and programs. In particular, information video materials were said to have been circulated on alternative electronic notification mechanisms, guidelines for using the services provided by the Prompt-Response Office, the payment schemes, as well as on the procedures applicable to electronic auctions.

The Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer also presented last year’s achievements in the field of international cooperation. It was reported that in 2017 the Service actively participated in international scientific-practical conferences, seminars and other professional events held in both CIS and European countries.

Armen Harutyunyan also reported on the measures envisaged in 2018, which are related to the improvement of notification mechanisms for parties to enforcement proceedings, the introduction of information technologies, enhancement of oversight over enforcement proceedings and a number of other issues.

The President of Armenia instructed the Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer to tighten the control over the quality of enforcement proceedings, keep in close touch with different administrative bodies as regards the enforcement proceedings, as well as to enhance proceedings’ efficiency with the least possible use of human resources and wider application of information technology.