Due to the transition, it is definitely likely that the existing model of the Constitutional Court won’t be implemented. This is what Minister of Justice of Armenia Rustam Badasyan said as he responded to MPs’ questions during a discussion on the package of bills on making supplements to the Constitutional Law “On the Constitutional Court” today at the National Assembly. He also stated that the supplements envisage granting the right to appoint judges of the Constitutional Court to three authorities, including the General Assembly of Judges, the Government and the President of the Republic of Armenia. “As far as the point about voluntary pension is concerned, the Venice Commission has stated that there is no such model that can go against the will of judges, if there is no external pressure.

We have also explored international practices which show that the schemes for early pension are either compulsory or voluntary. The evaluations of international organizations of compulsory pension were unequivocal — they contradict several principles and are considered inadmissible. The institution of going on pension voluntarily has been introduced in Georgia, Russia, Ukraine, Denmark, Australia and several other countries,” Badasyan stated.