Success Stories

 

In this section you can read about how MAAC support to government and civil society is making a difference for Armenians when facing corruption.

 

• Property Rights Secured

A citizen's property was illegally occupied by a neighbor, and a village administrator refused to intervene. The citizen applied to his local Advocacy and Assistance Center, and after the AAC's intervention, the property boundaries were delineated and ownership of the contested land was restored to the legal owner.

 

To read more please click here.

 

• Newlyweds Defend their Rights

A newly married couple attempted to register their marriage and get a marriage certificate; however, the clerk at the Office of Vital Records Issues complicated the issuance process, allegedly making the couple believe that they needed to make an additional, unofficial payment. The couple decided to apply to their local Advocacy and Assistance Center, where they received full information about their right to fair and timely processing of official documents. The couple then returned to the Vital Records Issues office and quoted the regulations that supported their claim - the marriage certificate was issued without delay.

 

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• Couple Avoids Paying a Bribe by Getting Support from Yerevan Advocacy and Assistance Center

Parents were allegedly demanded to pay a bribe in order for the mother to stay in the hospital premises where their child was getting medical treatment. After getting assistance from Yerevan Advocacy and Assistance Center, the mother was able to stay with the child.

 

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• Retiree’s Pension Rights Protected by Armavir Advocacy and Assistance Center

A retiree confronted with the possibility of losing 30% of his pension for, as he thought, refusing to pay a bribe to the local Social Security office in order to acknowledge ten years of his work history, got his rights protected by Armavir Advocacy and Assistance Center.

 

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• Passport Denial Overturned after Shirak Advocacy and Assistance Center's Intervention

A 40-year old citizen that was denied issuance of a new passport on the grounds of lacking a registered address, got his matter resolved after applying to Shirak Advocacy and Assistance Center.

 

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• One Call to Hotline Wards Off Corruption

A village resident, denied a residence certificate by the municipal office, resolved the issue with the support of Syunik Advocacy and Assistance Center.

 

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• Taxicab Driver’s Livelihood Safeguarded

A taxicab driver in Armavir, accused of causing an accident and faced over $1 500 in car damages, got his rights protected in court by Armavir Advocacy and Assistance Center.

 

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• Elderly Citizen’s Unjust Eviction Suspended

An elderly resident of Vanadzor and her family faced eviction from their townhouse, which had been sold at a public auction by local authorities using allegedly forged documents.  With the support of Vanadzor Advocacy and Assistance Center, the immediate eviction was suspended.

 

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• Parents Say No to Hospital Demands for “Unofficial Fees”

A mentally disabled teenage girl's parents were allegedly urged to pay an unofficial 'fee' in order to treat their daughter. After Armavir Advocacy and Assistance Center's lawyers' intervention, the hospital admitted the girl free of charge.

 

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• Tax Auditors Trained to Detect Fraud

MAAC supported the State Revenue Committee of Armenia in developing a guidebook and training tax auditors in identifying tax frauds.

 

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• Anti-Corruption Battle “Taken to the Streets”

A driver in Yerevan, allegedly extorted by a traffic police officer and accused of driving under the influence of alcohol after refusing to pay the alleged bribe defended his rights in court with the support of MAAC grantee Achilles - a non-governmental organization, specializing in protecting drivers' rights in Armenia.

 

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• Informed Parents Fight Corruption in Healthcare

A couple with a newborn child was demanded to pay $400 for 'services rendered' in the obstetrical hospital. After being counselled by MAAC grantee Armavir Development Center, the couple was able to get proper medical care for free.

 

To read more please click here.  

 

• Arbitrary Payments for Schooling Curbed in Rural Community

A mother of two was told to either purchase a new school uniform for her children or not to send them to school. Unable to afford the expense, she informed MAAC grantee ALT TV of Armavir about the story, which was immediately aired. Facing public pressure, the school officials backed down from their demand.

 

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• Advocacy Paves the Way for Customs Reform

MAAC grantee Union of Information Technology Enterprises (UITE) is spearheading a campaign to help Armenia’s IT industry by reducing the risk of corruption at customs, where the absence of a market-based products’ price list leads to arbitrary valuations by customs officials, multiplying costs for importers and decreasing their incentive to import and export. 

 

To read more please click here.