YEREVAN. – The overall crisis in Armenia’s judicial system, in particular the Constitutional Court (CC) crisis, can and must be resolved by constitutional amendments. Minister of Justice Rustam Badasyan said this in a conversation with journalists today.
"Whatever solution we find now, that solution cannot be a 100% basis for restoring public trust in the entire judicial system," the minister said. “There is time until February 27 for early retirement [of the serving CC judges]. (…) If no one applies for early retirement, there will be no tragedy from it. If anyone applies, it is half a step towards resolving the crisis."
Badasyan stressed that the current criminal case against CC president Hrayr Tovmasyan should not be linked to the resolution of the CC crisis.
"No one is insured and has no absolute immunity from any criminal prosecution," he added, in particular.
Badasyan said that the newly formed constitutional reform commission will look at the constitutional directions outlined in the judicial-legal strategy.
And asked if they plan to change the model of government in Armenia, the minister said: "The government does not plan, and the prime minister has made it clear."