Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

On 23 January 2023,  "SJC-8-Ո-26" decision was published օn the RA judiciary official website. According to the aforementioned decision, the Supreme Judicial Council, at an in camera session, discussed the matter of proposing candidacy for the vacant position of the President of First Instance General Jurisdiction Criminal Court of Yerevan and decided to propose to the RA President the candidacy of Mnatsakan Martirosyan.

A number of NGOs made a joint statement  regarding the appointment of Mnatsakan Martirosyan as the President of the First Instance General Jurisdiction Criminal Court of Yerevan.

The statement was based on conditions such as Mnatsakan Martirosyan’s engagement in politically resonant cases, whose judgments convicted political prisoners. Furthermore, in the context of judicial acts made by Mnatsakan Martirosyan, the European Court of Human Rights confirmed violations of fundamental human rights and a fact of political prosecution, which, inter alia, also resulted in a big financial burden on the state.

Moreover, having conducted an integrity check regarding Mnatsakan Martirosyan, the Corruption Prevention Commission issued a negative conclusion. A negative conclusion was also issued by a representative of the Union of Informed Citizens, who was involved as a national expert. 

Based on the above-mentioned conditions, we consider inadmissible Mnatsakan Martirosyan’s appointment as the President of First Instance General Jurisdiction Criminal Court of Yerevan, and in this regard we demand from the RA President Vahagn Khachaturyan not to appoint Mnatsakan Martirosyan as the President of  First Instance General Jurisdiction Criminal Court of Yerevan, and to return the proposal, together with objections, to the Supreme Judicial Council.

Protection of Rights without Borders NGO

 Transparency International Anti-Corruption Centre

 Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly-Vanadzor

 Law Development and Protection Foundation

 Democracy Development Foundation

 Public Journalism Club

 “For Equal Rights” educational center NGO

 “Peace Dialogue” NGO