Zhoghovurd daily of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes as follows, in particular: The Council of Europe Advisory Panel of Experts on Candidates for Election as Judge to the European Court of Human Rights [(ECtHR)] has given a negative conclusion regarding [Armenia’s] Vigen Kocharyan's candidacy as a judge of the European Court of Human Rights and as a result, rejected the nomination of his candidacy to the PACE.

There are rumors in the judicial system that the reason for the rejection is his incompatibility with the position of a judge. Article 21, Section 1 of the European Convention on Human Rights sets out the requirements for a judge. According to that provision, judges must have a high moral profile and meet the requirements for appointment to high judicial positions, or be recognized knowledgeable jurists.

The fact that he did not meet these formal requirements was the reason for the rejection of his candidacy. However, Vigen Kocharyan continues to claim in the court system and publicly that he gave up the idea of going to the ECtHR and voluntarily withdrew his candidacy.

Let's note that Vigen Kocharyan is a candidate for the judge of the Court of Cassation [of Armenia], and if the Committee of Experts of the Committee of Ministers of the Council of Europe has assessed that he does not meet the requirements for appointment to high positions in the RA judicial system, he is also not recognized as a jurist, how is he going to go to the Court of Cassation under these conditions?