Constitutional Court Did Not Recognize Requirement for PCR Testing as Unconstitutional, Ombudsman Candidate

The decision of the Constitutional Court regarding PCR tests in relation to COVID-19 does not imply that the Court has recognized the requirement to present tests as unconstitutional. The decision only states that the Minister of Health did not have the authority to clarify by decree who should bear the costs of the tests.

This was stated by Christine Grigoryan, the candidate for the position of Ombudsman, during the discussion of her candidacy in the National Assembly.

According to Gegham Nazaryan, a member of the 'Armenia' faction, there is considerable pressure from employers on employees regarding the PCR testing requirement. He noted that even after the Court's decision, employers threaten to dismiss employees if they do not cover the costs of the tests. He asked whether the Ombudsman candidate is ready to protect citizens from employer pressure.

Christine Grigoryan responded that protecting labor rights is a fundamental and inseparable part of the human rights protection system. She promised to monitor the protection of individuals' labor rights and address instances of discrimination in the workplace if elected.

Regarding the MP's comment on the Constitutional Court's decision concerning PCR tests, she disagreed, stating, 'The Court did not recognize the issue of PCR testing as unconstitutional in any way. This is a regulatory matter, and the Court's decision pertained to a specific phrase. The Court made it clear that the Minister of Health did not have the authority to specify by decree who should cover the costs. This does not mean that the Court has recognized the requirement to present PCR tests as unconstitutional.'