Hrayr Tovmasyan and the Constitutional Court Have Declared War on Pashinyan: Arman Babajanyan

National Assembly deputy Arman Babajanyan has written on his Facebook page: "Hrayr Tovmasyan and the Constitutional Court have declared war on the revolution and Nikol Pashinyan. Weeks ago, certain 'opposition figures' expressed doubts from the parliamentary podium, suggesting that Hrayr Tovmasyan and his leading gang are obstructing the country’s reforms.

The budding democracy of Armenia, which our people reclaimed with their inner strength and will two years ago, needs protection. No parent, no matter how dire the situation, would hand their child over to a pedophile for protection. The democracy of Armenia, represented by the majority of the current members of the Constitutional Court, is a den of pedophiles ready to consume the achievements won by the people at the right moment and to become a means and guarantor for the return of former criminals.

Now, everything in order:

1. On February 14, 2019, the Supreme Judicial Council, exercising one of its most important constitutional powers, terminated the powers of Arayik Melkumyan as a judge. This is the judge who has reportedly requested political asylum in the United States.
2. On October 4, 2019, the National Assembly submitted a request to the Constitutional Court regarding "the issue of terminating the powers of Constitutional Court judge (member) Hrayr Tovmasyan" under decision AJO-032-A. On October 14 of the same year, the Constitutional Court rejected the case for consideration, thereby depriving the National Assembly of its constitutional authority to address the Constitutional Court on the issue of holding a judge accountable for disciplinary actions.
3. Additionally, on November 15, 2019, reviewing the petition of former judge Arayik Melkumyan, the Constitutional Court declared void the provision defining one of the significant disciplinary violations committed by judges, which contradicts Articles 78 and 79 of the Constitution, that is: "the act committed by a judge that is incompatible with the position of a judge."
4. Today, on February 27, the Supreme Judicial Council partially satisfied the issue of holding First Instance Court judge Arayik Melkumyan accountable. Arayik Melkumyan was included in the reserve of judges. With this decision, the Constitutional Court effectively granted judges the opportunity to commit actions incompatible with the position of a judge without the risk of facing accountability. Furthermore, with this decision, the Constitutional Court sent a clear message to the judicial authority that it is not only the last bastion of the former government but also that of the current judicial system, and of those judges whose future defense is in question in the context of the announced judicial reforms in the country.

Indeed, this is a war against post-revolutionary Armenia to undermine the judicial system radically and to fulfill the commitment of the country’s leader, Nikol Pashinyan, to establish an independent judicial system.