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Vahe Grigoryan, a judge of the Constitutional Court of Armenia, has revealed two reasons for his failure to fulfil his duties over the past one year.

“During the past year, I did not fulfil my job responsibilities for two reasons. First, the constitutionality of the Constitutional Court was in question. Second, the Constitutional Court had a significant gap in democratic legitimacy,” Grigoryan told reporters on Friday.

To the question whether it’s fair that he received a salary for a year without going to work, the judge said he is not to blame for it.

"My salary is my only source of income. If I give up that source of living, how calm will you, as a citizen of Armenia, feel, thinking ‘What is that judge living on? What income should he live on?’ Have you ever thought about it?” he asked.

“Yes, there are situations when the official cannot attend the sessions. But I have not spent time in vain; I have elaborated draft procedural documents, which are going to be discussed and adopted over time. And the fact that I get paid or use a service car is presented by some media outlets as a reason for the crisis in the Constitutional Court. You are on the right path to focus on the crisis, even through personal attacks on me,” he stressed.

To the remark whether he should have run as a judge of Armenia’s highest court once the crisis had been over, Vahe Grigoryan referred to his remarks on the situation in the court made at the parliament a year ago.

"I have realized that there is a crisis and I have entered that field myself to help handle the crisis. I have no idea what it means to wait for the crisis to be resolved to be elected a judge,” he said.

Asked how he has fought the crisis in the court, the judge said no one can combat it.

“I can only have my utmost input through my publications and positions,” he added.