Constitutional Court chairman calls opposition MP Levon Zurabyan’s accusations marasmic
The claims that the Armenian side allegedly ‘tried to bribe’ the European Commission for Democracy through Law (the Venice Commission) so as to get a positive opinion on the constitutional reform are marasmic, Chairman of Armenia’s Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan told News.am.
“I consider those statements marasmic. I think the issues will be discussed in the legal field. If you ask me, the biggest bribe was that we submitted a brilliant draft and received such an opinion about it. I think the rest is a figment of deformed imagination. In all likelihood those statements will be discussed in the legal field in the near future and be followed by explanations about their reason,” Harutyunyan said.
When asked if a defamation lawsuit is meant, Harutyunyan said: “The matter is not about a suit, but the fact that law enforcement bodies have to take necessary measures in that case”.
The newspaper recalls that during October 9 briefings in the Armenian parliament, MP of the opposition faction ‘Armenian National Congress’ (ANC) Levon Zurabyan said that Armenian society does not support the draft amendments to the Constitution. According to him, among those few who support it are Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan and Constitutional Court Chairman, head of the Commission on Constitutional Reforms Gagik Harutyunynan who allegedly ‘carried out work on bribery of the Venice Commission”.
As was reported, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan on August 21 sent the draft constitutional amendments to the National Assembly of Armenia. The draft was prepared by the Specialized Commission on Constitutional Reforms adjunct to Armenian President. Following the debates, on October 5 the Armenian parliament adopted the draft decision about its consent to put the document to a referendum. The parliament adopted the draft decision by a majority of the votes: 104 MPs voted in favor, 10 against, with 3 abstentions. The draft was backed by the factions of Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), opposition ARF-Dashnaktsutyun, and Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP).
Opposition factions ‘Heritage’ and ‘Armenian National Congress’ (ANC), and 2 MPs of the opposition faction ‘Orinats Yerkir’ voted against. The head of state has set December 6, 2015 as the date for the constitutional referendum.