The Supreme Judicial Council is not a desirable body for the authorities, chair of Supreme Judicial Council of Armenia Ruben Vardazaryan told reporters on Wednesday.

To the remark that the Supreme Judicial Council did not stand next to Judge David Grigoryan and allowed for criminal prosecution against him, Vardazaryan noted that the Supreme Judicial Court performs a function that does not imply that it should stand next to the judge as the Council is called upon to ensure the independence of the judiciary and judges.

When asked whether Grigoryan’s independence was ensured, he noted: “Ensuring the independence of a judge does not mean that you should not allow criminal prosecution against him at all costs.”

It should be noted that on July 27 the Supreme Judicial Court granted the petition of the Prosecutor General and agreed to institute criminal proceedings against Judge David Grigoryan. By the decision of the Council, the powers of the latter are suspended. Grigoryan was later charged with official forgery.

David Grigoryan is a judge who examined the case of the second President of Armenia Robert Kocharyan and others. It was he who on May 18 decided to release the ex-president.