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Armenia’s former Justice Minister Artak Zeynalyan, who has been nominated for a judge of the Administrative Chamber of the Court of Cassation, on Monday refused to comment on the scandalous audio recording involving the judicial watchdog head.

Ruben Vardazaryan, the dismissed SJC chairman, released last week a secretly recorded audio of his conversation with acting SJC head Gagik Jhangiryan, who can be heard warning Vardazaryan to resign or face criminal charges. The Investigative Committee is probing the audio scandal.

Opposition groups and activists have demanded Jhangiryan’s resignation and prosecution for illegal interference in the work of law-enforcement agencies.

“A legal process is underway and I, as a candidate for judgeship, cannot publically comment on it at this point,” Zeynalyan told reporters on Monday.

In response to the remark that he had not yet been elected to the post and could express his position, Zeynalyan stated that the rules of judicial ethics also apply to candidates.

He promised to act in full compliance with the law if elected.