Month: February 2020

Lawyer: Constitutional changes can’t be put to referendum without Constitutional Court’s endorsement

Andranik Taslakhchian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 6 2020

Lawyer Amram Makinyan has reacted to the statement of MP Vahagn Hovakimyan that My Step ruling faction will not pass the draft Constitutional amendments in the first reading and will propose lawmakers to put the bill to a public referendum.

The lawyer called MPs’ attention to Article 86 of the constitutional law on the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly, according to which draft constitutional changes are set to pass two parliamentary readings.

“Only after being adopted in the first reading and being endorsed by the Constitutional Court can the National Assembly consider passing and putting the draft law on a referendum,” he said on Facebook. “Until the bill on constitutional amendments is adopted in the first reading and is endorsed by the Constitutional Court, it cannot be put to a referendum.”

“Stop this legal buffoonery. It completely contradicts both the Constitution and Article 86 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly,” Makinyan stressed.

The constitutional changes drafted by several lawmakers of the ruling My Step faction would dismiss the Constitutional Court chairman and its six members who were installed before the entry into force of Chapter 7 of the Constitution amended in 2015. 

President of the Constitutional Court says political confidence inapplicable for judiciary system

Liana Toganian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 6 2020

Official reception was organized on Thursday on the occasion of the 24th anniversary of the establishment of the Armenian Constitutional Court. The President of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan delivered remarks during the event.
“We should realize and definitely recognize that the Constitutional Court is not a political institution, and it is unacceptable to check the level of political confidence toward the Court. There can be no such practice,” Hrayr Tovmasyan said in his remarks.
In his words, the judiciary system is a specialized agency while its credibility is measured exclusively through the number of cases under consideration and the number of subjects participating in the proceedings.

“That is the only guarantee of trust,” Tovmasyan stressed, adding the judges who issue rulings just for pleasing someone may the next day rule against those people.

“Just remember, no one will ever bring independence on a tray . That is the case with states and institutions. It requires a struggle to get it,” the President of the Constitutional Court said. Tovmasyan also stressed that the judges of the Constitutional Court will never accept a decision for which they will feel ashamed anytime.

To note, earlier the Armenian parliament adopted a bill that envisages a possibility for CC judges to resign before the end of their mandate with several advantages, including a provision they will continue to receive their salaries and other benefits if they tender resignations. Since entering into force on December 27, 2019, no judge of the Court has applied for the scheme.

The authorities claim the new legislation remains voluntary and does not hinder the effective functioning of the Court, while opposition called the measure as ‘legal bribe to judges’, expressing concern the bill may be used as a tool by the political leadership to force the judges into resignation.

PM claims they have found the ‘dream model’ of a Constitutional Court

Chakrian Hovsep
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 6 2020

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan proposed on Thursday a nation-wide referendum on constitutional and related changes. The statement came at the extraordinary session underway in the country’s National Assembly.

The proposed amendments relate among other things to removing the requirement for the Constitutional Court to check the compliance of draft legislation with the Constitution of Armenia, and subsequently change the procedure of revision of the Constitution itself. In addition, a constitutional amendments will result at ending the terms of several members of the current Constitutional Court with immediate.

“We have found the dream model of the Constitutional Court,” the PM asserted, speaking at parliament.

“We have gathered here today to launch this process and we should adopt a decision to solve the issue with people. I hope that the National Assembly will make a decision on changing Article 213 and call for nation-wide referendum. Changing the Article in question will result in ending the terms of the members of the Constitutional Court elected through old system. This will happen if the citizens of Armenia go to electoral stations vote for the proposed amendment on the scheduled day of the referendum, vote for the revolution and vote for the rule of the people,” Pashinyan said.

To note, Armenia’s authorities question the legitimacy of 7 out of 9 judges of the current Constitutional Court who had been elected prior to the entry into force of the 2015 constitutional amendments. The argument is that according to the previous text of the Constitutional the judges in question had been elected as members of the Constitutional Court. Article 213 of the revised Constitution, however, provided that the Chairman and members of the Constitutional Court appointed prior to the entry into force of the 2015 Constitution should serve their terms.

President refers two bills to Constitutional Court to determine constitutionality

Boris Nahapetian
Panorama, Armenia
Feb 6 2020

Armenian President Armen Sarkissian refused to sign two bills into law and asked the Constitutional Court to pass judgment on them. As the President’s press service reported, the President refused to sign the bill “On making amendments and Supplements to the RA Code of Criminal Procedure and “Supplements to the Law on Bank Secrecy” citing “apparent legal-constitutional problems” emanating from them.

The bills in question were adopted by the National Assembly on January 22.

According to the source, the president has submitted the bills to the Court along with legal justifications to determine their constitutionality.

Syrian-Armenian soldier killed in Idlib during firefight with terrorists

Christine Harutyunian

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 09:44, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. A Syrian-Armenian soldier of the Syrian military has been killed during a firefight with terrorists near Idlib, Gandzasar weekly reports.

According to Gandzasar, the 32 year old ethnic Armenian soldier – Jean Gatanjean – was killed on February 5.

The funeral of Gatanjean will take place on February 6 at the Church of the Holy Cross Armenian Catholic church in Aleppo.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




NSS Armenia arrests high ranking official for abuse of power

Garo Vardanian

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 20:53, 5 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS. Chairman of Urban Development Committee of Armenia Vahagn Vermishyan has been arrested on the suspicions of receiving bribes of particularly large amount, ARMENPRESS reports the National Security Service of Armenia informs.  

The National Security Service of Armenia has revealed that Vahagn Vermishyan received bribes from individuals engaged in construction or constructing companies in 5 separate cases ranging from 1 million to 2.5 million AMD. He received the bribes both personally or through other peoples.

For the purpose of hiding the traces of his acts, Vahagn Vermishyan violated the ban for officials to engage in business activities and established an architectural company registering it in the name of his trusted person and suggested the people who applied to him to do the architectural works with that company, guaranteeing them favorable conditions for their future works.

Vahagn Vermishyan and others suspected in the crime have been arrested. After being interrogated, Vermishyan admitted his guilt.

Preliminary investigation is underway.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

1st Armenian Ambassador to Iceland delivers credentials to President Jóhannesson

Hambardsumian Paul

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 19:48, 5 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 5, ARMENPRESS.  Newly appointed Ambassador of Armenia to Iceland Alexander Arzumanyan (residence in Stockholm) delivered credentials to President of Iceland Guðni. Jóhannesson on February 4.

As ARMENPRESS was informed from the press service of the MFA Armenia, after delivering the credentials, Ambassador Arzumanyan had a private conversation with President Jóhannesson.

The President of Iceland welcomed the decision of the Government of Armenia to accredit its 1st Ambassador in Iceland. At the request of the President the Ambassador presented the process of democratic reforms in Armenia, the recent developments over the peaceful settlement process of Nagorno Karabakh conflict, as well as Armenia-EU cooperation prospects.

The sides also discussed a broad scope of issues referring to the deepening of Armenia-Iceland bilateral relations.

Edited and translated by Tigran Sirekanyan

At least three dead as Turkish jet skids off runway in Istanbul

Arbi Tashjian

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 09:47, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. At least three people have been killed, 179 other were injured after a passenger plane landing at an airport in Istanbul has skidded off the runway and broken into three parts, reports BBC.

The Pegasus Airlines jet was carrying 171 passengers and six crew members from Izmir province in the west when it crashed at Sabiha Gokcen airport.

The Boeing 737 was trying to land in heavy tailwinds and rain.

The airport was closed and flights diverted after the accident.

The majority of people on board were Turkish, but local media quoted the airline’s records as saying there were 22 foreign passengers from 12 other countries. A small number of children are believed to have been on board.

According to the preliminary reports, the plane couldn’t hold on the runway due to poor weather conditions.

15 Israeli soldiers injured in Jerusalem vehicle ramming attack

Babken Chilingarian

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 10:11, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. 15 Israeli soldiers were injured when a motorist deliberately rammed their vehicle into the off-duty troops, Jerusalem Post reports.

The suspected car ramming attack, which is currently treated as terrorism, took place in a driveway in Beit Jala, near Bethlehem. One of the victims is in critical condition.

According to Channel 13, the Israeli soldiers were on a tour in Jerusalem at the time of the attack.

Authorities believe the perpetrator noticed the group and deliberately rammed the vehicle into them.

The suspect is currently at-large.

Edited and translated by Stepan Kocharyan




Former NSS chief Vanetsyan announces plans to engage in active politics

Eduard Nalbandian

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 10:52, 6 February, 2020

YEREVAN, FEBRUARY 6, ARMENPRESS. Former Director of the National Security Service of Armenia Artur Vanetsyan announced about his plans to engage in active politics.

“I will make an announcement on my plan to engage in active politics and will try to be presented already at the political field. Engaging in political activity supposes creation, registration of a political force, which I am going to do in the nearest future. Soon a new political force will be established, political consultations are already being held for this purpose, and we will announce about the registration of our party very soon”, Vanestyan said at a meeting with a group of editors of newspapers.

Edited and translated by Aneta Harutyunyan