As we have already informed, today, on January 29, The Ministry of Justice announced the results of the election of the candidates for the members of the Professional Commission on Constitutional Reform, who are legal scholars and representatives of non-governmental organizations.
According to the publication, Karen Zadoyan representing the “Armenian Lawyers’ Association” Non-Governmental Organization and Daniel Ioannisyan representing the Union of Informed Citizens” consulting NGO were elected members of the Commission.
After receiving this information, Arpine Hovhannisyan, a former candidate for a member of the Specialized Commission on Constitutional Reform, a legal scholar in an interview with Hraparak.am, in response to a journalist’s question on how she assesses the composition of the commission, said: “As regards the composition of the commission, I highly appreciate the professional knowledge of all of them and the experience of the constitutional processes of two members of the commission, Anahit Manasyan and Armen Mazmanyan. As for NGOs, these are loyal NGOs that are funded by the government and so on, and there is not much to add here.”
In response to a question of Iravaban.net, Artak Saribekyan, Executive Director of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association noted that the information published is not true and the association does not receive any funding from the state budget. As for being “loyal NGOs to the authorities”, he noted: “The Armenian Lawyers’ Association is an independent, sovereign professional body which, if necessary, on a professional platform, has been critical of and criticizes both the former and the current political authorities. If necessary, we also provide the government with professional, expert opinions and advice to resolve legal issues in the country, working with the political authorities in a constructive dialogue format.”
Artak Saribekyan also added that the candidacy of the President of ALA Karen Zadoyan as a member of the Professional Committee on Constitutional Reform has been nominated and supported by the CSO Anti-Corruption Coalition of Armenia and the Constructive Dialogue Network of Armenian CSOs.