YEREVAN. – By a secret ballot on August 2, the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) of Armenia unanimously elected Judge Artur Mkrtchyan—who presides over criminal cases—as President of the Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction. SJC member Grigor Bekmezyan informed this to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Mkrtchyan is known to the public, especially in the case on remanding second president Robert Kocharyan in custody. On January 18, he had granted the Special Investigation Service’s petition to extend Kocharyan’s custody and denied his defense team’s motion to release him on bail.

One month ago, Yerevan Court of General Jurisdiction President Ruben Vardazaryan’s respective powers were terminated, since he was elected SJC Chairman.

The mandate of the president of the aforesaid court is three years.