What Jhangiryan Meant: Details

“When I said it’s on my shoulders, I meant that it is my mission, my calling, not something imposed on me by someone else,” said Gagik Jhangiryan, the acting president of the Judicial Council, during a live broadcast on Public TV.

“We are talking about judicial reforms. This is my moral obligation; I voluntarily committed to implement the reform process since 1990,” he added.

Referring to his conversation with former Judicial Council President Ruben Vardazaryan, whose recording was made public by Vardazaryan, Jhangiryan stated: “Our conversation at the table lasted for two and a half hours or more. I am confident that the recording exists from the very beginning; the 14 minutes is just an excerpt. Three men were sitting there; it wasn't just one person talking; everyone was speaking, yet it appears I am delivering a monologue, saying impactful words one after the other.”

“Mr. Vardazaryan approached the members of the Judicial Council who initiated proceedings against him and requested them to initiate proceedings against me as well. Those colleagues asked to be provided with the entire recording for a detailed review, but he publicly refused. This happened about 1 year and 2-3 months ago, and there are quite interesting topics discussed that are absolutely not beneficial for Vardazaryan to be made public. If he presents the full recording, it could have serious consequences for him,” Jhangiryan remarked.

Jhangiryan also expressed a desire to ask for forgiveness from mothers, women, sisters, and girls for certain inappropriate expressions he used in a closed male environment that were publicly disclosed without his consent. “I regret that,” he said.