The Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Addresses Whether Judge Mkrtchyan is His 'Eyes and Ears'

“I have two eyes and two ears; everything else is yours.” This statement was made by the Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council, Karen Andreasian, in a conversation with reporters, addressing claims that Judge Rubik Mkrtchyan is considered his 'eyes and ears' in the Court of Appeals. According to him, these assertions are mere gossip.

“I have two eyes and two ears. My eyes and ears are on me. I have not assigned anyone. I declare that this is gossip. When there have been rumors, we have said that we do not comment on them,” Andreasian noted.

In response to a question regarding the decision made by Judge Mnatsakan Martirosyan and the ruling issued by the European Court of Human Rights, and why he was not subjected to disciplinary responsibility, Andreasian stated: “As a minister, I conducted proceedings regarding Martirosyan, but the Supreme Judicial Council did not discuss it; I cannot assess my or other judges’ actions, as that pertains to the code of conduct for judges.”

Asked if Mnatsakan Martirosyan makes political decisions, the chairman refrained from answering the question: “A judge does not have the right to evaluate another judge's decisions. I cannot answer not because I do not know the answers to those questions, but because I do not have the right to respond.”

Regarding delays in court cases, the Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council said, “An independent body has come and responded to another body concerning a specific case, which could be interpreted as an accusation. We do not engage in political debates, as that is a wrong approach for the judiciary. When there is a statement regarding a specific judge or a specific case, we respond to that. There have been shortcomings in all systems. If the heads of criminal bodies were at the table, it would be appropriate for these discussions. Otherwise, it appears that I am conveying accusations behind backs. I can state that there have been faults within the judicial authority. Yes, there have been delays and slowdowns.”