NGOs to be allowed to carry out business activities – minister

A bill on non-governmental organizations has been put on the Armenian parliament’s agenda.

Keynoter, Armenia’s Minister of Justice Arpine Hovhannisyan noted that it is a bill that has most actively been discussed by NGOs, international agencies and so on.

The bill is in the center of political interests.

“The principle of the bill is to prevent our unnecessary interference, with proper control,” Ms Hovhannisyan said.

“According to the bill, both individual citizens and legal entities can be NGO members. NGOs have been given a chance to launch business activities, and they can establish or share in a commercial organization,” the minister said.

Ms Hovhannisyan also pointed out changes involving NGOs’ activities.

“The current law does not regulate it. If an NGO purchases property on public funds, it is supposed to publish a relevant report on its official website. Otherwise, it will bear administrative responsibility,” the minister said.