Armenia's Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan in an interview to the Public Television of Armenia has commented on the resignation of Supreme Judicial Council President Karen Andreasyan, denying any pressure from the Government on the latter’s decision to do so.
On Monday, Pashinyan said he asked several high-ranking officials to step down. Among them were Cabinet members and top law enforcement officials, as well as Andreasyan.
Andreasyan tendered his resignation shortly afterwards. The resignation caused criticism on whether the request amounted to pressure on the independent body’s president.
“First of all, I didn’t urge anyone to [resign], I asked,” Pashinyan said in an interview with Public Television aired on Friday evening. “Is there a political, moral and legal opportunity to ask it? I believe there is.”The issues in the sector stem from the government’s goal of forming an independent judiciary, Pashinyan stated.
“Had we not wanted to have an independent judiciary, a lot would go on quietly, and there wouldn’t be any turmoil, shocks or some processes. But we have chosen a difficult yet necessary path, to have an independent judicial system, which requires systemic changes,” Pashinyan said.
He reminded that the law envisages the criteria for the election of the members of the Supreme Judicial Council, and no appointment can happen in violation of these criteria.Pashinyan said his administration has been consistent in the issue of developing an independent judiciary.
“As of 2018, the then-existing system was readily available. You just had to take the system’s wheel. But we didn’t take that path. We chose the path of reforms, which is difficult yet necessary. These developments showcase that we are not deviating from our strategic goal of having an independent judicial system,” Pashinyan said.
