The Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes as follows: The representatives of [PM] Nikol Pashinyan's power (...) are not at ease with judicial independence, which can even theoretically be manifested in any courtroom.

Today, the parliament will vote on a long-circulated draft law on amendments to the RA Judicial Code constitutional law, which clearly limits the guarantees of judges' independence.

In particular, the new draft proposes only 4 votes in favor out of 11 members to initiate proceedings against judges. Let us inform that at the moment the commission consists of 8 members, 6 of whom are judges and 2 are non-judge members, who are elected by the General Assembly of Judges.

The Zhoghovurd daily learned that the new draft increases the number of members to 11 members, of which 5 are non-judge members and 6 are judges.

Experts are convinced that this will make [Armenia’s] judges vulnerable, as the commission with representatives of the public sector will try to saturate, pressure, and initiate disciplinary proceedings against judges, because in the event of a vote in favor of 5 out of 4 of the non-judge members, disciplinary proceedings will be initiated against any judge.

(...).

This is a clear interference with the independence of [Armenia’s] judges and the work of that community.

(...).

To recall that recently, elections were held as a result of the free will of the judges. In addition, the work of a non-judge member of the commission is a compensated job, and the elected member has a legitimate expectation that he will be paid for 4 years. But in the event of approval of the draft, not only will that member be faced with an unconstitutional dilemma—to remain on the commission or to practice law, but he will also be deprived of a legitimate expectation.

Ultimately, this draft interferes with the selection of [Armenia’s] judges, which is unacceptable.