Vetting is not about the Past, it is a Tool of the Future ․ Karen Zadoyan

Mr. Karen Zadoyan, President of the Armenian Lawyers’ Association, expressed his professional opinion on 19 May during the discussion on judicial reforms.

He noted that the Association had proposed to the government and the National Assembly 1.5 years ago to discuss the mechanisms for conducting vetting based on studies.

According to Karen Zadoyan, it is necessary to take into account all the risks and set the priorities for the implementation of the vetting. It should be chosen whether to go in the way of the “soft” or through a comprehensive vetting.

“The current Constitution allows for the creation of two types of bodies: independent (for example, the Ombudsman’s Office) and autonomous (for example, the Corruption Prevention Commission). Can we create a new body for vetting of the judges? I think “no”, because the same Constitution stipulates that the SJC has the right to decide on the disciplinary action of judges, and only the SJC can resolve the issue of termination of the powers of judges. The functions of the vetting under the current constitutional regulations are within the competence of the SJC,” he noted.

According to Karen Zadoyan, in order to legitimize the vetting, it is necessary to involve non-governmental organizations and legal scientists as well. “Of course this is a ‘soft’ vetting. Time will show how effective it will be… Vetting is not about the past, it is a tool of the future. It should also be combined with the structural changes of the judicial system, “he said.