I Have Heard, But I Have Not Seen: Vardanyan

“Every individual has the right to free speech and expression, and every right comes with certain limitations. We must start from the premise of what kind of person we want to see in the judicial authority, the commission for the prevention of corruption (CPC), and other autonomous bodies. We need to demonstrate a value-based approach. We accept everything in good faith. The CPC will present its findings, which we will also accept; it is advisory in nature,” stated Vladimir Vardanyan, Chairman of the Legal Affairs Committee of the National Assembly and member of the Civil Contract faction.

According to Vardanyan, he has heard about, but not seen, the statements made by Alexander Sirunyan, the candidate for the Supreme Judicial Council, regarding the residents from Artsakh. It should be noted that a while ago, Sirunyan made posts on Facebook that were contrary to ethics and anti-Artsakh. In one of them, he lamented that newly displaced residents from Artsakh were baking and selling 'jengyalov hats' in different parts of Yerevan and later expressed dissatisfaction about them soon setting up shacks in the city center, as they could not live anywhere else other than on Sayat Nova Avenue.

He has now deleted those posts.

In response to the question regarding Sirunyan's membership in the Civil Contract party, Vardanyan assured that it is not an obstacle. He emphasized that being a member of a political party can only be a hindrance to holding a position in the judicial authority in communist or authoritarian regimes.

There is also information that several civil society organizations have issued statements demanding the cancellation of Alexander Sirunyan’s candidacy for the Supreme Judicial Council.

“The Civil Contract faction makes its choice after listening to the candidate. He must constitutionally address the National Assembly, receive the necessary majority vote from the deputies, and only then will he begin his work,” Vardanyan noted.

It is worth recalling that during the Civil Contract party board meeting held on November 5, it was decided to propose to the faction to discuss the candidacy of Alexander Sirunyan for the position in the Supreme Judicial Council.