Criminal Proceedings Reopened Regarding the Recording of Conversation Between Vardazaryan and Jhangiryan

The criminal proceedings regarding the recording of a conversation between former Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Ruben Vardazaryan and former Acting Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, former military prosecutor of Armenia, Gagik Jhangiryan have been reopened, Ruben Vardazaryan's lawyer Hovhannes Khudoyan stated to News.am.

He noted that the Deputy Attorney General of Armenia, Arthur Poghosyan, has overturned the investigator's decision to terminate the proceedings.

It is worth mentioning that former Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Ruben Vardazaryan published a controversial recording during a press conference on June 20. The recording captured a conversation that took place on February 20, 2021, between Vardazaryan, former Chairman Gagik Jhangiryan, and lawyer and Supreme Judicial Council member Stepan Mikayelyan. In the recording, Jhangiryan is seen "persuading" Vardazaryan to resign from the position of Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council.

Three days after the publication of the recording, on June 23, the Supreme Judicial Council suspended Ruben Vardazaryan's powers. On July 1, Acting Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Gagik Jhangiryan resigned from his position as a member of the Supreme Judicial Council, citing health issues.