Alleged Violator Judge Dolmayan Will Be Forgiven: There's an Order, Says 'Hayots Joghq'

The Supreme Judicial Council of Armenia will announce its decision regarding the disciplinary accountability of Anti-Corruption Court judge Vahe Dolmayan on August 5. While the Council is examining Dolmayan's actions in a consultative chamber, 'Hayots Joghq' has received some information about the preliminary collective moods within the Council. Accordingly, it is highly likely that Vahe Dolmayan's powers will not be revoked, and the Council will perhaps suffice with issuing a mere admonition.

'Hayots Joghq' reports that on July 16, the Council discussed a report submitted by the head of the penitentiary service, Ambakum Grigoryan, regarding violations of procedural law norms by Judge Dolmayan. However, there remains a favorable disposition towards the alleged violator.

What is being discussed? The representative of the Ministry of Justice stated at the Council: 'Within the framework of the decision regarding providing a short-term departure, the judge solved the questions of necessary time for return and the way of carrying out the departure… which he did not have the authority to resolve. The violations of behavior rules by the judge were committed with gross negligence,' the representative of the Ministry of Justice announced at the July 16 meeting, calling on the Council to satisfy the Ministry's motion.

It is noteworthy that this pertains to the circumstances surrounding former Minister of Defense David Tonoyan's 'short-term departure' to which he was able to visit his mother without handcuffs. Judge Dolmayan, of course, does not accept the accusations against him.

'Hayots Joghq' learned that the leniency towards Dolmayan has political motives, as he is reviewing the cases of political prisoners such as Armen Ashotyan, former head of the Supreme Judicial Council David Tonoyan, and other politically related cases, and is examining them in a desirable manner that satisfies the political power. In other words, it is said that Dolmayan is the judge of the 'heart' of the authorities; therefore, perhaps he will only receive a warning,' the newspaper reports.