FROM NOW ON ARMENIAN JUDGES WILL HAVE TO BE VERY CAREFUL IN ACCEPTING GIFTS
Yerevan, July 25. ArmInfo. From now on the Armenian judges will have
to be very careful in accepting gifts, Armenian Justice Minister
David Haroutyunyan said during a press-conference today.
He said that the inter-department working group set up in Mar 2006 and
consisting of 16 representatives of the presidential administration,
government, judiciary, public prosecutors office, Chamber of Lawyers,
parliament and police has successfully completed its work on a package
of court system reforms. One of the key points is that the Armenian
judges must abstain from accepting any kinds of gifts. They can do
this only during weddings, their own birthdays and birthdays of their
relatives but then too they should report on gifts to the Commission
on Ethics.
Haroutyunyan said that specialized administrative courts and courts
on bankruptcy will be formed in Armenia. The Economic Court will be
dissolved, the Court of Cassation divided into two chambers of three
judges each. From now on it will be the authority of the Council of
Justice to announce vacancies and to test applicants for judges. Of
25 judges passing the exam the Council will select 16 ones and will
submit the list for the President’s approval. However, they will
enter into their offices only after completing a 1.5-year training
course at special School of Judges.
Haroutyunyan said that judges have no right to have private businesses
or to hold some paid position. They must be politically neutral and
not affiliated to any party. They can take part in elections only as
voters or electoral commissioners.
At the same time, Haroutyunyan refused to comment on his future
political activities saying that this was not the topic of the
discussion.