YEREVAN. – It is the judicial power and the judiciary that play a key role in the administration of justice. Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan stated this during today's parliamentary hearings on reforms in Armenia’s Judicial Code and related laws, responding to the question as to why the Ministry of Justice has decided to start the judiciary reforms from the country’s judicial system.

He noted that according to the respective legislative package, it is proposed to change the number of members of the Ethics and Disciplinary Committee to 8 persons. Two of them will be nominated by the NGOs operating in the country. "However, they must be scholar lawyers," the minister noted.

He said, in addition, it is envisaged to set up a committee on evaluation of the judges’ activities, to discuss the distribution of court cases among judges, their consideration within a reasonable time, and the conduct of judges during court hearings.

Introducing the proposed changes, Badasyan assured that the given legislative package is widely discussed, is studied internationally, and has received a positive conclusion from the Venice Commission.

The government is the creator of this legislative package.