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“Path of Law NGO” released on Monday excerpts from the summery report of the 119th Plenary session of the Venice Commission of the Council of Europe held in June 21 22 which contains references to the situation around the judges of Armenia’s Constitutional Court among other things.

The document that summarizes the plenary session discussion about Armenia notes that the recently elected judge of the Constitutional Court Vahe Grigoryan had questioned the legitimacy of 7 out of 9 judges of the Court who had been elected prior to the entry into force of the 2015 constitutional amendments.

The Commission, specifically, recalled judge Vahe Grigoryan’s argument that according to the previous text of the Constitutional the judges in question had been elected as members of the Constitutional Court. Article 213 of the revised Constitution, however, provided clearly and unambiguously that he Chairman and members of the Constitutional Court appointed prior to the entry into force of amendments shall continue to serve until the end of the term of office prescribed by the Constitution of 2005.

“It was disturbing that this statement by the judge had been applauded in parliament and there might be a risk of interreference with the mandates of the sitting judges,” the document released by the Commission says.