Interrelated corruption cases to be combined 

ArmInfo. In Armenia, it is planned to combine interrelated cases considered by different judges. The National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia at the plenary  session on March 26 introduced amendments to the Civil Procedure Code  in the first reading.

According to Deputy Minister of Justice of the Republic of Armenia  Tigran Dadunts, the current code allows for the consolidation of  interrelated cases into one proceeding, but there is no mechanism for  solving this problem.

Meanwhile, in practice, such a need arises quite often, especially  due to the specifics of proceedings on cases of confiscation of  property of illegal origin. The proposed legislative changes will  allow for the consolidation of interrelated cases on confiscation of  property of illegal origin under the jurisdiction of different judges  of the Anti-Corruption Court of the Republic of Armenia into one  proceeding, which will facilitate the effective resolution of cases  within a reasonable time.

It is envisaged, in particular, that two or more proceedings may be  combined into one if all judges, having considered the petitions,  have made decisions to permit the combination of cases. If the number  of judges considering cases on the combination is more than two, then  the judge who first accepted the petition sends all judges the  decision and the documents that served as the basis for its adoption.  If the next judge considering the case subject to combination also  makes a decision to permit the combination, then the case is  immediately transferred to the judge who previously accepted the  application for proceedings.