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22
12, 2011
President Serzh Sargsyan invited a meeting on the issues related to the judicial system
President Serzh Sargsyan invited today a meeting on the issues related to the judicial system.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the RA Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunian, Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian, Head of the National Security Service Gorik Hakopian, Head of Police Vladimir Gasparian, Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumian, RA Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmassian, Chairman of the National Assembly Commission on Legal Issues David Harutyunian.
Today’s meeting concluded this year’s series of the meetings conducted by the President and dedicated to the issues related to the judicial system of Armenia. At previous meetings, the participants discussed issues related to the quality of preliminary investigation, efficiency of the directorate of public prosecutions as well as to the issues related to the administration of justice by the courts.
“You and I, have mentioned on many occasions that reforms conducted in this area should reinforce trust of our society toward the system. I believe, we didn’t have any disagreement on this issue. And we have chosen the method of disclosing and eliminating the problems which exist and which impede that public trust. Public trust is not something imaginary: it is measurable, can be easily analyzed and drawn conclusions on.
Instructions have been issued, proposals have been presented, and their successful implementation will improve activities of your structures, enhancing, thus, public trust.
Unfortunately, I should also note that situation today is not satisfactory; we cannot report considerable improvement in this area. And, such assessment is based not only on your reports but also on the analyses conducted on my instructions,” the President of Armenia said.
According to the President, in the area of criminal justice, for instance, very often one can find simply illegal decisions. And reasons of such occurrences are much deeper than just the carelessness or negligence of one particular official. Existing shortcomings and violations taken together undermine the very essence of criminal justice.
“There are issues which eventually become a structural problem. This is what we have to reckon about and in the nearest future we have to seriously work on it. With this regard, I would like to hear what practical measure are envisaged by the four-year plan of reformation of the legal and judicial system for 2012-2016 so that such happenings are prevented and eradicated in the future,” the President of Armenia underscored.
Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of reviewing the illegal verdicts, reestablishing violated rights of the individuals.
At the conclusion of the meeting, President proposed to launch an official investigation on the actions of investigators, prosecutors, and judges who have made or approved illegal decisions, to address the issue of their disciplinary liability and if there are cases which contain indications of criminal wrongdoing to send corresponding material to the RA Special Investigation Service.
President Sargsyan stressed the importance of ensuring a common and unbiased approach in these investigations.
Taking into consideration the importance of the program, the President of Armenia proposed to conduct parliamentary hearings on the draft program for the reformation of the legal and judicial system.
The meeting was attended by the Chairman of the RA Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunian, Prosecutor General Aghvan Hovsepian, Head of the National Security Service Gorik Hakopian, Head of Police Vladimir Gasparian, Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation Arman Mkrtumian, RA Minister of Justice Hrayr Tovmassian, Chairman of the National Assembly Commission on Legal Issues David Harutyunian.
Today’s meeting concluded this year’s series of the meetings conducted by the President and dedicated to the issues related to the judicial system of Armenia. At previous meetings, the participants discussed issues related to the quality of preliminary investigation, efficiency of the directorate of public prosecutions as well as to the issues related to the administration of justice by the courts.
“You and I, have mentioned on many occasions that reforms conducted in this area should reinforce trust of our society toward the system. I believe, we didn’t have any disagreement on this issue. And we have chosen the method of disclosing and eliminating the problems which exist and which impede that public trust. Public trust is not something imaginary: it is measurable, can be easily analyzed and drawn conclusions on.
Instructions have been issued, proposals have been presented, and their successful implementation will improve activities of your structures, enhancing, thus, public trust.
Unfortunately, I should also note that situation today is not satisfactory; we cannot report considerable improvement in this area. And, such assessment is based not only on your reports but also on the analyses conducted on my instructions,” the President of Armenia said.
According to the President, in the area of criminal justice, for instance, very often one can find simply illegal decisions. And reasons of such occurrences are much deeper than just the carelessness or negligence of one particular official. Existing shortcomings and violations taken together undermine the very essence of criminal justice.
“There are issues which eventually become a structural problem. This is what we have to reckon about and in the nearest future we have to seriously work on it. With this regard, I would like to hear what practical measure are envisaged by the four-year plan of reformation of the legal and judicial system for 2012-2016 so that such happenings are prevented and eradicated in the future,” the President of Armenia underscored.
Serzh Sargsyan stressed the importance of reviewing the illegal verdicts, reestablishing violated rights of the individuals.
At the conclusion of the meeting, President proposed to launch an official investigation on the actions of investigators, prosecutors, and judges who have made or approved illegal decisions, to address the issue of their disciplinary liability and if there are cases which contain indications of criminal wrongdoing to send corresponding material to the RA Special Investigation Service.
President Sargsyan stressed the importance of ensuring a common and unbiased approach in these investigations.
Taking into consideration the importance of the program, the President of Armenia proposed to conduct parliamentary hearings on the draft program for the reformation of the legal and judicial system.