YEREVAN. – I want to share information. I cannot say that it is verified, but according to my information, [Constitutional Court president] Hrayr Tovmasyan has been charged. Ruben Melikyan, a representative of “Legal Way” NGO, said this in a conversation with journalists outside the Constitutional Court (CC) of Armenia.

"I can't say with what article," he added. “This process becomes much clearer. To bring charges against the CC President after the so trumpeted law on volunteering, if anyone thinks that all these processes, filing charges are not cause related, it is hard to consider this approach logical, that it is an approach having the right to exist.”

Melikyan noted that prior to the entry into force of the new Constitution, Tovmasyan was endowed with general immunity. "The ruling political force did not actually stop before this move," he stressed. “And we have many such examples as to what the accusation means in Armenia lately, for political reasons. I think we have at least serious grounds for serious suspicion toward charge brought."

At present, the Special Investigation Service (SIS) officers are in the Constitutional Court and are interviewing Hrayr Tovmasyan. 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.