Buquicchio Issues Statement Regarding Situation at Armenia's Constitutional Court

Gianni Buquicchio, the President of the Venice Commission, has issued a statement concerning the situation surrounding Armenia's Constitutional Court, emphasizing the need to uphold the principle of voluntary early retirement for judges. He has called for a de-escalation of tensions and a resolution of the issue within an atmosphere of restraint and mutual respect.

“As a continuation of my statement from October 29, 2019, I remain concerned about the open conflict surrounding Armenia's Constitutional Court. I share the concerns expressed by the co-rapporteurs of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe in this regard. I would like to once again refer to the recommendations made in the Venice Commission's opinion, published in October 2019, stating that the early retirement scheme in the Constitutional Court should truly be voluntary and exclude any political or personal pressure on judges, and it should be implemented in a way that does not affect the outcomes of ongoing cases. Recent public statements and actions do not meet these standards and cannot contribute to de-escalation of tensions.

The democratic culture and maturity demand procedural restraint, integrity, and mutual respect among state institutions. I once again urge all parties to exercise restraint and ease the tensions in this troubling situation to ensure the normal functioning of Armenia's constitution,” Buquicchio stated.