Karen Khtryan, Head of Department of Expert Examination of Legal Acts at the Ministry of Justice, provided his commentary in the mass media regarding Draft amendments to the Law on Non-Governmental Organizations.   

According to his explanations, the changes were determined by the goal to make activities of NGOs more transparent, and the requirements provided by the draft follow the similar legal documents in other countries.  Khtryan mentions that the requirement for transparency apply  not only to NGOs but also to governmental bodies and public officials: "Today the demand for transparency is faced by all high-ranked public officials, they publish declarations about their assets so the public learns about it, there is a demand that governmental bodies provide transparency of activities, the governmental meetings are displayed on the monitor."

The Department Head pointed out that some people at the public hearings were unaware of the draft and complaining about a number of provisions which in reality were not part of the draft law. From the beginning, a biased opinion was formed, it seemed like some NGOs appeared at the hearings just to make a show and to criticise", he said in his commentary, mentioning that the drafters did not work in a cabinet, secret atmosphere. He said that the draft does not include provisions allowing seeking termination of NGO activities through the court, if their reports contain mistakes.  "If the draft law had such a provision, international experts would surely reproached us for that. I do not understand the position of NGOs, I believe they just wish to collect political dividends", said Khtryan.

The law has been sent to international expertise, the experts' opinions were received and now the law is in the stage of final development and after its completion in the first decade of February, it will be passed to the National Assembly.