US Embassy Responds to Notable Recording: 'Hraparak'

The newspaper "Hraparak" reports: We sent a query to US Ambassador Lyn Tracy regarding the conversation between acting Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) Gagik Jhangiryan and suspended SJC Chairman Ruben Vardazaryan that took place on February 20, 2021, which was released on June 20. We asked whether the conversation contained instances of interference in the judiciary by acting SJC Chairman Gagik Jhangiryan, carrying out political directives, as well as coercing Vardazaryan to resign from his position through blackmail or other methods, and whether it demonstrated inappropriate behavior for a judge and an SJC chairman. To what extent does the behavior of acting SJC Chairman Gagik Jhangiryan conform to the democratic values supported by the US and the esteemed ambassador personally?

The embassy provided generic and unspecified responses to our inquiries. “We are closely monitoring the details that emerge in this case. As we have previously stated, we support and encourage continuous democratic reforms in Armenia. The cornerstones of democracy include the rule of law, judicial independence, and the citizen's right to hold public officials accountable. We are ready to continue our support for judicial reforms demanded by the Armenian people, where some progress has been made, but much work still remains,” the embassy stated.

We also posed additional questions to the ambassador regarding the regression of democratic values in Armenia, but the embassy preferred to send similar formal and vague responses to all inquiries.