There Is Something That Unites the First, Second, and Third Presidents and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: Arpine Hovhannisyan

Former Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Arpine Hovhannisyan posted on her Facebook page: "What unites the first, second, and third presidents and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan? Recently, the Supreme Judicial Council published its annual report, a substantial document of about 253 pages. Many observations can be made regarding this document, but I will address a few of them, of course, without forgetting to discuss them in systemic connection with the other statements and documents of the head of the SJC. Now, in more detail:

• The analysis ensures the independence of the judiciary on pages, additionally noting that in the exceptionally challenging post-revolutionary year, amidst an unprecedented wave of public pressure on courts, the SJC managed to ensure the normal functioning of the courts without causing significant disruption to systemic stability. Do you seriously believe what you are saying? And not a word about those guiding these pressures or about the disgraceful pressures from the executive branch on the judiciary. What has the SJC done in this case, other than make passive, non-informative statements that, in some cases, would have been better off not being made, since they were nothing more than direct blows to judges under public pressure? How have you ensured Alexander Azaryan's independence? The judge's statement itself is quite telling.
• The report mentions the need to exclude "telephone justice," even highlighting a significant decision made during the previous administrations regarding this issue. The logic suggests that the report should have addressed the undermining of judicial independence through phone calls, the well-known recordings, at least somehow discussing the Prime Minister's statement that there is no judge who would say no to him. Stark silence. There is not even a slight mention of the judge 'Hraci' who continues to serve successfully and is the hero of the recordings. It turns out that the only striking example in this field is that the Compulsory Enforcement Service sometimes fails to ensure the implementation of judicial acts. Then, in a completely irrelevant section of the report, there is talk of some bureaucrats speaking from parliament and other platforms who harm the independence of the courts. Perhaps the bureaucrat in question is the Prime Minister himself. This is my opinion. But the SJC remains silent here, seemingly implying that there are bureaucrats while simultaneously blurring the lines by not naming names. All that remains is to feel deep regret that the guarantor of the judiciary remains silent and blind when he should have responded. But, of course, the reason for not responding is clear; the SJC is deeply grateful to the Government. Why, one might ask? Probably for the allocations it receives. And here you understand what an important thing mutual gratitude is.
• At the SJC's anniversary event, the president stated that systemic corruption in the judiciary has been excluded, and the institutional preconditions for this phenomenon have been removed. The seriousness of this statement is the same as saying that there is, in general, no corruption in the country. And how can an entire power—the judiciary—consider an organization whose head uses the term 'pickpocketing' against that system as its guarantor of independence?
• Of course, there is no mention of the Supreme Court's fearful stance, the positions completely disconnected from legal science, ongoing mass recusals, and refusals to administer justice regarding the criminal chamber.

P.S. There is one undeniable thing that unites the first, second, and third presidents and Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan: their perceptions of Gagik Harutyunyan's 'irreplaceability.'

Nikol Pashinyan's opinion about this organization and its leader remains unclear, but it is clear that Gagik Harutyunyan has changed his perception and not only that—he has conformed to the new authorities’ chemistry.