Member of the National Assembly Gevorg Kostanyan resigned from the position of RA representative at the European Court of Human Rights. 

At today’s session of the government, a decision was made, according to which Deputy Minister of Justice Artak Asatryan will perform the duties of the representative of ECHR Armenia.

Kostanyan issued a statement saying:

“After the European Convention on the Protection of Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms was ratified by the Republic of Armenia on April 26, 2002, the representation of the Republic of Armenia at the European Court of Human Rights was established in 2004. From the first day of establishment until now, I have been the representative of the RA government at the European Court.

In these years, with the efforts of all of us in the Republic of Armenia, undoubtedly, a huge amount of work has been done in the field of human rights protection in general and especially in the direction of wide application of the European Convention on Human Rights in the Republic of Armenia.

During the years 2002-2017, the number of complaints submitted to the ECtHR for the examination of the Republic of Armenia amounted to 3,416. 1,518 of these complaints were considered inadmissible by the ECtHR or removed from its list of cases.

As of June 14, 2018, the ECHR has issued 93 judgments in 88 proceedings regarding the Republic of Armenia. In 4 proceedings, the ECHR Chamber made 2 separate judgments on the merits and on just compensation. The judgment of the Chamber in 1 proceedings was revised by the judgment of the Grand Chamber. Out of 88 judgments on the merits, the ECtHR recorded a violation in 84, and in 4 it did not record any violation.

As of June 14, 2018, according to the judgments of the ECHR regarding the Republic of Armenia, which have become final, the applicants submitted a claim for compensation equivalent to more than 23 million euros, of which 1,158,290 euros were satisfied, that is, about 5% of the total claim.

After the events that took place in April-May 2018, the government changed in Armenia, as a result of which the government’s position has naturally changed or may change in the majority of cases currently being examined or to be examined in the European Court. Under these circumstances, I consider it inappropriate to continue my tenure as the representative of the Republic of Armenia at the European Court.

I find that the new government should have the opportunity to freely present its positions in the cases examined in the European Court and not be constrained by the previously presented positions.

There will be many occasions to discuss my activities as the representative of the Republic of Armenia in the European Court in more detail, but at this moment I want to record that during these years I and the team working with me have done everything possible to properly represent the interests of the Republic of Armenia in the European Court.

I am sure that the new team will also work with no less dedication and the state of human rights protection in Armenia will improve every year.”