Judge Who Dined with Pashinyan to Be Appointed to New Position

According to the "Жournal" newspaper, a judge who dined with Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan a year ago is set to become the president of a newly created court chamber. On January 17, 2022, the National Assembly discussed a draft law proposing amendments and additions to the constitutional law on the judiciary of the Republic of Armenia, which suggests establishing two separate chambers instead of the Civil and Administrative Chamber in the Court of Cassation.

While the National Assembly deliberates this matter, a "scramble" has begun regarding the appointment of the president of the chamber that has yet to be established in the Cassation Court. According to information received, the government’s candidate for the chamber’s presidency is Cassation judge Hovhannes Bedevyan, although other judges are also vying for the position. Moreover, the political leadership has identified a potential candidate for the president of the Civil Chamber.

According to our sources, their candidate is Cassation Court judge Arsen Mkrtchyan, who had dined at Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's residence last year. At that time, Mkrtchyan, who was a candidate for judge, had lunch with Pashinyan and discussed future actions. Now, a year after that meal, he is being considered for the presidency.