VIDEO: Today's footage from the Supreme Judicial Council is a clear illegal interference in specific judicial proceedings, says Arman Tatoyan

Today's footage from the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) is a blatant illegal interference in specific judicial proceedings and the powers of judges. This was stated by the former Human Rights Defender of Armenia and director of the Tatoyan Foundation, Arman Tatoyan, on his Facebook page.

“It is evident that this step has been coordinated at the highest political level or is a result of a political assignment, prepared under the direct supervision of the SJC. There has been a gross violation of the Constitution and Armenia's international obligations. Bypassing the special procedures prescribed by law, based on some incomprehensible 'researches' on specific cases in judicial proceedings, a group of judges has been declared guilty, while another group has been acquitted.

Moreover, the real authors of the SJC video have 'insured' themselves by claiming that the author is the Judicial Department, while it is evident that the true author is the Supreme Judicial Council itself. This is an entity authorized by the Constitution to impose disciplinary sanctions on judges.

For the sake of pleasing political power, the SJC has only taken on cases of opposition figures, while praising judges under the protection of the government. It is clear that this is also a blatant 'message' related to future judicial acts in other cases; instead of fulfilling its constitutional mission to guarantee the independence of the courts, the SJC will sacrifice judges for political power if the required behavior is not exhibited by that power.

Even if the video were prepared by the Judicial Department, given that no staff member of that body has the right to evaluate the footage, those who prepared it should be held accountable. Thus, instead of public justifications claiming that they prepared the footage, the staff of the Judicial Department should realize that the SJC has used them, and they have allowed a gross violation of the law,” Tatoyan's statement reads.

We also present the video published today by the SJC.