On 10 October, at the cabinet meeting of the Armenian government, the strategy for judicial reforms for 2019 to 2023 and the planned measures were adopted, reported arka.am.
Deputy Justice Minister Rafik Grigoryan said that the reform applies not only to the courts, but also to the prosecutors office as well as investigative and other offices. He said the strategy is based on the government's program for 2019-2023, the government's anti-corruption strategy and international organizations' reports. In his words, the strategy consists of three programs: 1) a short-term one (2019, 2020), 2) a long-term one (2021-2023) and 3) a program of separate steps to be taken to create an electronic platform of justice and provide access to electronic base for a period between 2019 and 2023.
A very important component of the strategy is vetting of judges for confirming their impartiality. There will be a mechanism for stripping biased judges and judges with tarnished reputation of their powers.
Grigoryan said that the strategy also implies some constitutional changes and reform of the electoral code. A special standing committee will be set up for growth of constitutional reforms. In particular, Grigoryan said that the constitution does not allow judges to appeal against decisions made by the Supreme Judicial Council, a state body overseeing courts. He said the government also wants to lower the vote threshold for winning seats in Armenia’s parliament and to make sure that Armenians vote only for parties and blocs, rather than individual candidates, in future general elections.
In addition, a committee will be set up for sorting through mass violation of human rights committed since 1991 in elections, post-election political repressions, public property alienation, military service in inhuman conditions etc. The committee will operate for two years with an opportunity to prolong its activity for another year. It will be made of up to 20 members, with persons who enjoy public confidence. The aim of the committee is to restore the wronged people's rights.
The strategy implementation is estimated to cost around $42 million.
The need for judicial reforms was expressed on 20 May in Armenia, when Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan called the people to block all courthouses in the country. He called an emergency meeting with senior state officials, where he demanded a mandatory “vetting” of all judges in Armenia and said that many of them must resign because of their connections to the country’s former leadership and due to the mistrust of the public (Caucasus Watch reported).
