Justice minister's dismissal has shocked his deputy

The news that Armenia's president has fired justice minister has come as a shock for First Deputy Justice Minister Gevorg Malkhasyan.

Speaking to journalists after a cabinet meeting today, Malkhasyan said he was shocked when he learned late on Wednesday that Gevorg Danielyan has been sacked.

"I don’t' know the details of that incident. I only know what the prime minister said. At 7:30 pm yesterday I had something to report [to the justice minister]. He told me 'don't report it to me. I am no longer a minister'. It came to me as a surprise, and I was shocked," Malkhasyan said.

Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan said at today's cabinet meeting that the justice minister was fired because he failed to punish Mihran Poghosyan, the head of the Compulsory Enforcement Service (CES), for a "serious violation of moral norms."

Gevorg Malkhasyan further said that Poghosyan has already been reprimanded.

It is the president who has the authority to appoint or fire the head of the CES, therefore, the Ministry of Justice personnel have no
idea whether or not would Poghosyan remain in office.