On November 18, SJC Chairman Karen Andreasyan, Interior Minister Vahe Ghazaryan, Minister of Territorial Administration Gnel Sanosyan, IC Chairman Argishti Kyaramyan, SRC Chairman Rustam Badasyan, and Anti-Corruption Committee Chairman Sasun Khachatryan submitted their resignations.
The cause of these large-scale departures was Nikol Pashinyan’s Friday statements expressing dissatisfaction with the work of law enforcement and judicial bodies.
Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, told Iravaban.net that while Nikol Pashinyan, as head of government, can express his opinion publicly, two of the executive resignations pose a danger.
Referring to the resignations of the SJC and Anti-Corruption Committee chairmen, anti-corruption expert Karen Zadoyan noted these two bodies have very high independence standards protected by the Constitution and laws.
The SJC is an independent constitutional body ensuring judges’ and courts’ independence, and no one, including the executive head, can restrict their activities: “I see danger that the executive could influence the predictability of judicial power formation. This is very concerning, and I believe lawyers, anti-corruption activists, and organizations should provide their impartial professional assessment.”
The Anti-Corruption Committee is also guided exclusively by the Constitution and laws and must maintain political neutrality.
Zadoyan cited the Jakarta Principles’ resignation principle. He noted that in 2021, when the Committee was formed, Armenia’s civil society Anti-Corruption Coalition didn’t participate in the competition, stating there was political influence in appointing the Anti-Corruption Committee head, contradicting these principles.
“Again, the Anti-Corruption Committee chairman resigns following a political statement. I think this is a dangerous precedent that could undermine the independence underlying the anti-corruption institutional system. The Prime Minister cannot restrict or predetermine the resignation of SJC and Anti-Corruption Committee chairmen with his request.”
Details in the video.