Experts, policymakers discuss strengthening Armenian judicial independence at OSCE-organized conference

YEREVAN, 28 June 2011 – Identifying ways to strengthen the independence of Armenia’s judiciary is the focus of a meeting organized today by the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR) and the OSCE Office in Yerevan. 

The meeting brings together international and local experts to discuss the Kyiv Recommendations on Judicial Independence in Eastern Europe, South Caucasus and Central Asia, a set of recommendations adopted in June 2010 by an expert group under the auspices of ODIHR and the German Max Planck Institute, in the context of Armenia.

The primary goal of the Kiev recommendations is to identify impediments and recognize good practices for the makeup of independent judiciaries in OSCE participating States and assist them in adhering to their commitments.

“Ensuring judicial independence is a key OSCE commitment, and has repeatedly been highlighted by the participating States in a number of documents, primarily in the 1990 Copenhagen document and later in the 1991 Moscow document and the 1999 Charter for European Security,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “The Kyiv Recommendations should serve as a touchstone for the reform process in Armenia with an overriding objective to promote the rule of law and strengthen the independence of the judiciary.”

Armenian Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasyan highlighted a number of problematic areas related to the judiciary in Armenia, and added: “There is political will to address these issues, and a clear understanding that many problems existing in the country cannot be solved without an independent judiciary. I hope that today’s discussion will act as a stimulus to proceed with furthering reforms.”

Issues that will be examined by the conference include: the accountability of judges and their independence in adjudication; the composition, role, and division of functions between the Council of Justice and the Council of Court Chairpersons; the selection of candidates; and the appointment and promotion of judges.

“The Kiev recommendations are a balanced set of proposals, which incorporate international standards for independent judiciaries, while allowing for differences in legal development in OSCE participating States,” said Leonid Golovko, a professor from Moscow State University.

Participants of the meeting include senior state officials, policymakers, judges, advocates, parliamentarians and academia.