Criminal Proceedings Initiated Based on Vardazaryan's Released Audio Recording

Based on the materials prepared from the audio recording released by the former chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Ruben Vardazaryan, a criminal case has been initiated, according to a statement from the Investigative Committee provided to Aysor.am.

The proceedings have been initiated under two articles of the Armenian Criminal Code: Part 1 of Article 441 (Use of power or official authority by an official to the detriment of state or service interests, failure to perform or improper performance of official duties, or performing an action outside the scope of their authority that causes significant harm to the rights, freedoms or legal interests of individuals or organizations, or to the legitimate interests of society and the state) and Part 2, Clause 2 of Article 486 (Interfering in any manner with the activities of a court or impeding the work of a prosecutor, investigator, head of investigative body, investigative agency, lawyer, or representative by using official authority to obstruct the enforcement of justice or other legal powers provided by law).

Recall that the former president of the Supreme Judicial Council, Ruben Vardazaryan, had presented an exclusive audio recording during a meeting with journalists, which was a conversation between himself, the acting chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Gagik Jhangiryan, and Supreme Judicial Council member Stepan Mikayelyan, that occurred on February 20, 2021. According to the recording, Jhangiryan “persuades” Vardazaryan to resign, promising that the criminal cases initiated against Vardazaryan would be dropped in exchange for his resignation, and that he would remain in the Supreme Judicial Council as a council member.

In the recording, Gagik Jhangiryan also makes political statements, expressing that he does not want the second president of Armenia, Robert Kocharyan, to return.

In a broadcast on public television, Gagik Jhangiryan stated that 15-20 minutes into the conversation, he had already realized that Vardazaryan was recording him. Jhangiryan also noted that if Vardazaryan presents the complete recording, it could lead to serious consequences for him. He indicated that the meeting lasted more than 2 hours: “I am confident that from the very first moment, that recording exists; it is just that those 14 minutes are edited.”

A motion to institute disciplinary proceedings against Gagik Jhangiryan had been rejected. Yesterday, the Supreme Judicial Council announced that Gagik Jhangiryan had resigned due to health issues.