Suspension of David Grigoryan's Powers is a Repressive Process: Elinar Vardanyan

Elinar Vardanyan, the former head of the Human Rights Protection and Public Issues Committee of the National Assembly of Armenia, states that "The objective of judicial reforms in Armenia is to serve the interests of a system. Day by day, this is becoming more evident, manifesting blatant arbitrariness. Guided by political desires, total pressure is being exerted on the judicial system under the guise of judicial reforms. This process poses a danger not only to the legal system but to the overall development of the country.

There can be no talk of further development when the judicial system is sick, and instead of seeking remedies, the authorities attempt to use it for their own purposes by pressuring and influencing the system.

1. The implementation of "punitive" actions against judges: The suspension of the powers of Judge David Grigoryan in the case of Robert Kocharian is nothing but a punitive process, the sole cause of which was the judge's decision that was uncomfortable for the authorities, with the aim of influencing other judges' decisions. This is a dangerous process, and the deepening of it could have irreversible consequences. This decision indicates that any judicial act unfavorable to the executive power targets that specific judge. Comparisons with the previous authorities and the former judicial system are unnecessary; they merely serve as an excuse to justify one's own incompetence and legal nihilism.

What should be expected from the legal community? Here, the principle of collegial solidarity must come into play. The legal community must resist this process that undermines the legal foundations of the country. Judges should declare their disagreement with attempts to intervene in the independence of the judiciary and impose unprecedented pressure on judges. Now is not the time to be silent; there are many competent and dignified individuals among current judges who must raise their voice in a consolidated manner. Judges should express their support for Judge Grigoryan and any judge who is subjected to persecution related to their professional activities.

2. The legal processes occurring in the country pose very dangerous consequences. Let no one think that if they are not currently involved in the judicial process, these processes will not affect them tomorrow. If someone is comfortably situated today and is observing the injustices and judicial repressive machinery happening to others, this is a severely temporary comfort. The formation of a repressive system carries profound dangers, which will lead to legal terror and disintegration of the legal system, affecting everyone.

3. Creation of partially governable systems: It turns out that only the judicial system needs reform, while the Special Investigative Service and the Prosecutor's Office, which do what you want, are already reformed, already trustworthy, already new, while, for example, the Constitutional Court is not. Special measures and "crises" have been programmed that aim to bring the judicial power under control under the name of judicial reform. This is being done so blatantly and overtly that it indicates deep mistrust and anxiety within the authorities.

Conclusion: The trends of the intensive formation of a legal repressive system do not leave us with a moment's peace for reflection. Clear steps must be developed and implemented that will aim to prevent political encroachments on the legal system:

1. Formation of new structures to counter the repression of the legal system. Structures that will focus on gathering evidence of total violations and providing legal support to various sectors of society.
2. Consolidation of the legal community regardless of political views. It matters not what political views lawyers have; it is simply unacceptable to quietly watch how a system that already needs reform is breaking down. How a bad system is transforming into a new "Monster."
3. Formation of trade unions. The establishment of independent trade unions is extremely important at this stage, for the daily protection of one's rights in the field. One of the direct effects of punitive actions against judges will be widespread violations of human rights in various sectors. The events in Ijevan could become the rules of the game."