YEREVAN. – I assure you that all this is a political process and pursues one goal. Hrayr Tovmasyan, President of the Constitutional Court (CC) of Armenia, stated this in a conversation with journalists today at the CC building, and referring to his interview by the Special Investigation Service (SIS) and subsequent indictment.

"I thank all the NGO representatives present here, the people concerned about the country’s tomorrows," he said. “I want to assure you that nothing will stop the Hrayr Tovmasyan whom you know, and nothing will stop the [CC] judges, whom I’ve named, for building the judiciary of tomorrow, the country of tomorrow.

I have stated that this whole process is going on… If it is a political process, it is useless to speak about the right. And the bringing of the charge and the application of the pretrial measure has nothing to do with the law.

Hrayr Tovmasyan informed that a signature bond to not leave Armenia was chosen as his precautionary measure. "My lawyers have told me not to say anything," he added. "Some confidentiality of investigation, etc., etc."

Asked if he will continue in office as CC president, Tovmasyan said, of course.

As reported earlier, SIS investigators were in the CC today and were interviewing president Hrayr Tovmasyan of the CC, after which he was charged under the Criminal Code article on abuse of power which negligently caused grave consequences. This is with respect to the same criminal case on which Norayr Panosyan, whose wedding best man was Tovmasyan, was charged.

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.