YEREVAN. – I'm not going to make use of the opportunity for early retirement. Arevik Petrosyan, a judge of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, said this in a conversation with journalists today.

"I have filled every page of my biography with honor, with a high responsibility to participate in the strengthening of statehood," she said. "I'm not going to make use of the opportunity for early retirement, and I will remain true to my oath, given as a judge of the Constitutional Court, to be independent, impartial, and to fulfill my mission of upholding the supremacy of the Constitution.”

At present, the Special Investigation Service (SIS) officers are in the Constitutional Court and are interviewing president Hrayr Tovmasyan of the Constitutional Court. A picket is also taking place in the courtyard of the court. There are politicians and lawyers there, too.

Yesterday, President Armen Sarkissian signed a package of laws enabling the current Constitutional Court judges to apply for early retirement.

Soon after, the SIS investigators went to the Constitutional Court, but it was unclear what the purpose was.

It was later reported that the SIS had filed an additional charge against Norayr Panosyan, whose wedding best man was Hrayr Tovmasyan, and on these grounds again petitioned to the court to arrest Panosyan again.