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Armenian lawyer Aram Vardevanyan has denounced the recent statement of Vahe Grigoryan, a newly elected Constitutional Court judge who questioned the legitimacy of the court chairman and six other members.

During his swearing-in ceremony at the parliament on Thursday, Grigoryan argued the Constitutional Court now consists of ‘judges’ rather than ‘members’ according to the amendments that took effect in 2018. The new judge claimed that only he and Arman Dilanyan, a Constitutional Court judge elected last year, are eligible to serve as judges and take part in decision making.

Grigoryan also declared that he is solely taking over the ‘powers and duties of the Constitutional Court chairman’ since Dilanyan is absent from Armenia at the moment.

Speaking at a news conference today, Vardevanyan said it is even almost impossible to give a legal assessment to the judge’s statement.

The lawyer agreed with Gor Hovhannisyan, a candidate for the Constitutional Court judge, who, commenting on the statement, said ‘not all the opinions should become a topic of discussion.’

In the meantime, Vardevanyan regretted the statement in terms of Armenia’s principle of the state of law.

“Statements are made that first of all have nothing to do with the principle of the state of law. Hopefully, the Constitutional Court will be able to continue its regular activities and fulfill its constitutional mission and duties,” he said.