Hrayr Tovmasyan: I am open to any debate and ready to resign 'should such a demand be presented’

In an interview with 168 TV, the chairman of Armenia’s Constitutional Court commented upon the developments around the top judiciary body amid the authorities’ pressing attempts to force him out of office.

Hrayr Tovmasyan said he met with judges of the high court recently to discuss all the matters in a "sincere atmosphere" and reaffirm his dedication to office and commitment to serve the mission of ensuring their regular and unhindered work. Tovmasyan added that he would be ready to resign should at least five judges present such a demand, arguing that he, as the head of the top court, falls short of properly fulfilling his duties “to smooth the sharp edges”.

‟I am open for any debate if that’s going to offer any contribution to my country; there isn’t absolutely any obstacle for me. Do you really believe I will not be able to hold some position in the future with a similar salary?″ he said.

Asked to comment on the logical reasoning behind the authorities’ demand for his resignation, Tovmasyan said he doesn’t see any real threat to the current government from the Constitutional Court (as the remaining representative of the former regime). “I don’t think there is any hazard given that the Constitutional Court pursues only one task, i.e. – to ensure constitutionality in the country and oversee its maintenance within the scope of its authority,” he added.

Tovmasyan, also a former minister of justice (2010-2013) who earlier served as a parliament member, added he doesn't feel any share of guilt or responsibility on his part for numerous unresolved problems in the country. ″What I feel guilty for is the failure to create - both during my tenure as a minister and in the period when I was in parliament - the kind of system that would prevent detention or arrest from serving as a means for extorting testimony or as a punitive measure. If my resignation es expected to be the groundwork of our country's development to pave the way to the solution to the existing problems, I give my assurances that [notions such as] country, fatherland and security are much higher values for Hrayr Tovmasyan than the office which he holds presently. Hrayr Tovmasyan's name should not go into history as a chairman of the Constitutional Court; Hrayr Tovmasyan can be remembered as an author of different laws, the author of [the latest amendments to] the Constitution and a co-author of the constitutions of the two Armenian republics. As to where Hrayr Tovmasyan will be in the couple of months to come – whether he will head an NGO or a fund or serve as a judge at the Constitutional Court – that’s really too insignificant an issue for Hrayr Tovmasyan,″ he said.