Armenian political club slams bill proposing early retirement of high court judges

Members of the recently launched public-political club Vernatun have voiced concern over the parliament-backed measure proposing an early retirment for judges of the Constitutional Court, condemning the measure as a non-legal and anti-democratic move aiming to get rid of ″undesired judges″ through ″legalized grafts″.

In a statement released on Tuesday, the club also condemned the bill as a decision conflicting with the letter and spirit of the law and violating the principles of checks and balances, as well as separation of powers.

Describing the bill as an attempt to establish autocracy in breach of democratic principles and rule of law, it also highlights provisions incompatible with the country's organic law. Vernatun makes a call upon the President of Armenia to suspend the measure by disputing its constitutionality.

″By signing the bill into law, the President of the Republic will personally incur responsibility for the adoption and consequences of this non-legal and anti-democratic law, as the Constitution itself vests the President with the function to follow its observance. Even if the President signs the bill into law, it will nonetheless be declared unconstitutional sooner or later, but the damages inflicted will be irrevocable indeed. It is the moment to realize the personal responsibility for the state's present and future,″ reads the statement.