Former Director of Armenia’s National Security Service Artur Vanetsyan commented on parliament’s decision of holding nationwide referendum on constitutional changes.

“Encroachment on right and law took place in Armenia yesterday. The consequences will be severe and will disrupt the judicial security of the country as well as damage its international reputation,” Vanetsyan tweeted.
To remind, the proposed referendum on constitutional and related changes relate among other at dismissing seven of the nine members of the Constitutional Court. It will also remove the requirement for the Constitutional Court to check the compliance of draft legislation with the Constitution of Armenia, and subsequently change the procedure of revision of the Constitution itself.

According to the substantiation of the draft law, the Constitutional Court has a problem of being perceived as a credible and unbiased court in the society.