Member of the Supreme Judicial Council of Armenia Hayk Hovhannisyan submitted a motion for self-recusal during examination of the petition of the Ministry of Justice to institute disciplinary proceedings against Judge Alexander Azaryan of the Criminal Court of Appeal.

The Supreme Judicial Council left for the consultation room to render a decision.

The member of the Supreme Judicial Council stated that Head of the Special Investigation Service Sasun Khachatryan is a friend of his. He also stated the other ground according to which members of the Council Ani Mkhitaryan, Grigor Bekmezyan and Mesrop Makyan have informed that, based on his political statements, Hovhannisyan’s criticism undermines the reputation towards the Council and questions the independence and impartiality of the Council.

Today the Supreme Judicial Council is examining the petition of Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan to subject Judge Azaryan to disciplinary liability.