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The issue of the election of the candidate for the judge of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation was debated at the regular sitting of the National Assembly on October 24.

The Supreme Judicial Council nominated Davit Khachaturyan, Anahit Hakobyan and Manvel Shahverdyan for the vacancy of the judge of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

The Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Karen Andreasyan presented the biographical data and career paths of the candidates nominated for the vacancy of the judge of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation.

Davit Khachaturyan graduated from Yerevan State University, the Faculty of Law, is a candidate of law, a member of the Supreme Judicial Council since 2021.

In his speech, he referred to the functions of the Court of Cassation, stated that the Court of Cassation carries out a process of uniform application of the law.

The deputies of the NA Civil Contract Faction Sona Ghazaryan and Hovik Aghazaryan wondered what the reason and the motivation are to leave his position early and switch to another job.

In response, Davit Khachaturyan mentioned that he has already completed five years of work during his three-year activity as a member of the Supreme Judicial Council. “As a member of the Supreme Judicial Council, I completed my mission by 90%,” the candidate said.

The Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council Karen Andreasyan explained concerning this issue that it is the right of every specialist to leave his/her position early and switch to another job.

The Secretary of the NA Civil Contract Faction Artur Hovhannisyan inquired about the issue of improving the legislation of cooperation between the authorities.

Davit Khachaturyan stated that his entire working activity was aimed at the development of law and ensuring judicial control.

The Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council informed the parliamentarians that the candidate nominated for the vacancy of the judge of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation Anahit Hakobyan won’t take part in the debate of the issue due to personal problems.

The next candidate nominated for the vacancy of the judge of the Criminal Chamber of the Court of Cassation Manvel Shahverdyan has 20 years of professional experience, three of them as a judge. He is a judge of the Court of First Instance of General Jurisdiction of Yerevan.

In his speech, the latter expressed his willingness to invest his professional experience and knowledge in the development of the judicial system.

During the exchange of ideas, the deputies of the NA Armenia Faction Agnesa Khamoyan and Gegham Manukyan referred to the internal political developments and problems of the last days, and criticized the functioning of the judicial system.

According to the Secretary of Armenia Faction Artsvik Minasyan, the judicial system carries out unfair trials, implements political orders, and encourages violence.

The deputy of the NA Civil Contract Faction, the Chair of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs Vladimir Vardanyan addressed the questions of his opposition colleagues.

“We said the following: there are no so called our judges and your judges,” he stated.

Addressing the Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council and the representatives of the judicial system, Vladimir Vardanyan noted: “We demand one thing from the judges: to be guided only by law.”

He touched upon some domestic political issues, and stated that during the last three years, none of the opposition colleagues has been a co-rapporteur of any issue. “You don’t come to the Parliament, don’t participate in the debates and then complain about the judicial system,” the deputy said.

The debate of the issue will continue at the October 25 sitting.