The Civil Contract faction of the RA National Assembly nominated Alexander Sirunyan as a candidate for the non-judge member of the Supreme Judicial Council.
The Supreme Judicial Council is an independent state body that guarantees the independence of courts and judges. The proper implementation of this constitutional mission requires the political neutrality and restraint of the members of the Supreme Judicial Council, as well as independence from the legislative and executive power to ensure high public confidence in the judiciary.
Meanwhile, Alexander Sirunyan is a member of the "Civil Agreement" party.
The election of a member of the political majority party to the position of a member of the Supreme Judicial Council cannot ensure and guarantee the independence of the judiciary from the legislative and executive bodies.
The photos of Nikol Pashinyan published on the personal page of the latter's social networks are proof of this candidate's political neutrality and lack of restraint, as well as his loyalty to the Civil Contract Party and the head of the executive power.
Moreover, Alexander Sirunyan stands out for his indecent public behavior and negative behavior, which can negatively affect the reputation and public credibility of the judiciary and the Supreme Judicial Council. Thus, as early as 2019, the latter was subject to disciplinary responsibility and a severe reprimand by the RA Chamber of Advocates. for violating the lawyer's code of conduct.
In particular, A. was confirmed. Sirunyan's use of profanity, slang and offensive vocabulary on the Facebook social network.
The Council of the Chamber of Advocates has stated that the use of such expression and vocabulary is not suitable not only for a person with the public status of a lawyer, but also for any citizen who observes the accepted norms of civility and social coexistence and tarnishes his reputation both as a lawyer and as a citizen. appropriate behavior and vocabulary in the public domain is permanent and continuous and incompatible with the principles of decency.
Moreover, Alexander Sirunyan manifests an obvious discriminatory attitude according to the origin of people, making offensive expressions and spreading hatred towards the people of Artsakh in his public speech and posts on social networks.
The nomination of this candidate re-justifies the implementation of elections and appointments in the positions of the judiciary with political expediency, the tendency of the political power, endangering the most important principle of apoliticality, authority and credibility of not only the Supreme Judicial Council, but also the entire judiciary, as well as the effectiveness of its activities.
The problem is further exacerbated by the fact that the votes of the political team with the majority in the National Assembly are sufficient for the election of any candidate for the post of non-judicial members of the Supreme Judicial Council, without the decisive participation of the opposition.
We strongly condemn the approach of the majority political party to nominate a member of its political party and a person of bad character to the position of a member of the Supreme Judicial Council and demand:
Cancel the decision of the President of the RA National Assembly and cancel A. The decision of the candidacy of Sirunyan as a member of the Supreme Judicial Council, to exclude and refrain from electing Alexander Sirunyan as a member of the Supreme Judicial Council in the event of a vote in the National Assembly.
Rights Protection Without Borders NGO
Helsinki Civic Assembly Vanadzor office
Democracy Development Fund
Educational Center for Equal Rights NGO
Pink human rights NGO
Community Cohesion and Support Center NGO
Transparency International Anti-corruption Center Ecolur Information NGO
Public Journalism Club Journalists for Human Rights NGO
Helsinki Association human rights NGO
Yerevan Press Club Armenian Progressive Youth NGO
Multilateral Information Institute
Direct Democracy NGO
Change NGO
Law Defense and Development Fund
