Tuesday, August 4 2020 14:36

ArmInfo. RA President Armen Sarkissian again nominated Artur Vagharshyan for the post of judge of the Constitutional Court.

As reported by the RA President's press service, from April 9, 2018,  when Armen Sarkissian took office as president, and until May 30,  2019, he presented to the National Assembly 5 candidates for the  position of a Constitutional Court judge.

Parliament rejected 4 of them. Moreover, the president has nominated  Artur Vagharshyan for the second time. It was rejected for the first  time on May 29, 2019. The decision to nominate was made in order of  priority based on a list formed by an advisory working group that was  created by the president. At a meeting with representatives of the  Commission on Constitutional Amendments, the President noted that the  powers he, the General Assembly of Judges and the government /  parliament have to appoint judges (rather than nominate candidates)  would be more in line with the "logic and spirit" of the  Constitution, as well as the goals of judicial and legal reforms.

In this case, in his opinion, everyone would be responsible for their  choice. There would be a balance in the Constitutional Court, which  would ensure the independence of judges, since they would be free  from the influence of political changes. In addition, the most  important democratic principle of checks and balances would function  effectively and fully, and impartial constitutional justice would be  ensured.

It should be noted that earlier the Armenian government decided on  its candidate for the position of the Constitutional Court judge. It  was Vahram Avetisyan. In its turn the General Assembly of Judges  elected Yervand Khundkaryan as a candidate for a judge of the  Constitutional Court of Armenia.

To recall, the National Assembly of Armenia adopted amendments to the  law "On the Constitutional Court" on June 30. In accordance with  them, the powers of all judges of the Constitutional Court are  limited to 12 years. After the amendments were adopted, three judges  who had worked for over 12 years were dismissed from their posts:  Alvina Gyulumyan, Hrant Nazaryan and Felix Tokhyan. The chairman of  the court, Hrayr Tovmasyan, has become an ordinary judge. New judges  will now be elected instead. -