Third party intervention in litigation discussed at OSCE-supported event in Armenia

The OSCE Office in Yerevan jointly with Armenia’s Chamber of Advocates hosted a discussion on 4 December 2012, in Yerevan, on third party intervention in domestic and international litigation, specifically on the submission of amicus curiae (‘friend of the court’) briefs in Armenia.

The President of the Constitutional Court Gagik Harutyunyan, the Human Rights Officer of the OSCE Office in Yerevan Vladimir Tchountoulov and the Vice President of the Chamber of Advocates Ara Zohrabyan opened the event.

Representatives of the judiciary, the Human Rights Defender’s Office, civil society and international organizations discussed the practice of international human rights organizations in submission of amicus briefs (written expert observations and opinions), including that of the  practice of the European Court of Human Rights. Written observations submitted to the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia in 2012 by the Scientific and Analytical Centre at the Chamber of Advocates were discussed.

The OSCE Office works to promote the principle of amicus curiae in Armenia to contribute to the efficiency of judicial decisions, and to help build the capacity of advocates, human rights defenders and civil society in providing information to courts, including the possible implications of cases on third parties.