YEREVAN. – Deprivation of the right to life is justified in extreme cases.

Constitutional law expert Vardan Poghosyan, who is also a member of the President-affiliated Specialized Committee on Constitutional Reforms of Armenia, stated the aforementioned at Friday’s National Assembly hearings.

Poghosyan, however, regretted the fact that the committee did not include in the constitutional draft the respective limitations specified by the European Convention on Human Rights.

“It is apparent that, in extreme cases, the authorities should have the right to kill terrorists, or military servicemen that have fired at[—and killed—] their fellow serviceman,” stated Poghosyan. “[But] this is not about everyday, but such extreme cases.

“The authorities have a fundamental right to use moderate force, and I don’t think the curtailing of this right is against the Constitution [of Armenia].”