Bright Armenia party leader Edmon Marukyan has called for a criminal investigation into the election of Vladimir Vardanyan as president of Armenia’s Constitutional Court, citing media reports of possible pressure on a judge.
Marukyan questioned the court’s independence, arguing that Vardanyan’s longstanding ties to the ruling Civil Contract party raised concerns about his impartiality, Sputnik Armenia reported.
He compared the appointment with that of former Constitutional Court president Hrayr Tovmasyan, who had been associated with the Republican Party under the previous government.
Marukyan pointed to the failure of two rounds of secret voting and the subsequent resignation of Constitutional Court Vice President Edgar Shatiryan as grounds for investigating the election.
Vardanyan was elected on the third ballot by a one-vote margin. Media reports alleged that Judge Yervand Khundkaryan, whose vote was reportedly decisive, had faced pressure. Vardanyan denied the allegations.
Shatiryan subsequently resigned as vice president while remaining a Constitutional Court judge, describing his continued service in the leadership position as impossible under the circumstances.
