PACE monitor welcomes Armenia's request for Council of Europe expert legal advice

 18:06,

YEREVAN, MAY 19, ARMENPRESS. Co-rapporteur of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe for the monitoring of Armenia, Kimmo Kiljunen (Finland, SOC) assesses Armenia’s decision to request an opinion from the Venice Commission on the Constitutional situation in Armenia a good example of both the quality and the level of co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Armenian authorities, ARMENPRESS was informed from the website of the PACE.

''The Armenian authorities have decided to request the opinion of the Venice Commission  the Council of Europe's body of legal experts on possible changes to the Constitution regarding the Constitutional Court and this is very good news’', Kimmo Kiljunen said.

''The suspension of the referendum due to the coronavirus, and the choice made by the government to request this opinion and return the issue to parliament are all the more relevant given that the Armenian authorities will now have time to reflect on the opinion of the Venice Commission before taking further action and informing the public. I am looking forward to reading the opinion and seeing how it is taken into account’', Kimmo Kiljunen said, adding that this decision is a good example of both the quality and the level of co-operation between the Council of Europe and the Armenian authorities.

The referendum was scheduled on April 5, but was suspended due to the state of emergency as a result of the spread of the novel coronavirus. It was about suspending the powers of the President of the Constitutional Court Hrayr Tovmasyan and a number of other members of the Constitutional Court.