*Infographics at the end

Two judges have been nominated for the position of Judge of the Constitutional Court: Arman Kurekhyan, President of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Tavush Region, and Yervand Khundkaryan, President of the Court of Cassation.

Iravaban.net presents their biographies, and information on their property and income.

Arman Kurekhyan was born in 1974 in the city of Ijevan.

• In 1991 he entered and in 1996 graduated from the Faculty of Law of Yerevan State University with a degree in law.
• Since 2000 he has been a member of the RA Advocates’ Association, then a member of the RA Chamber of Advocates.
• From 2000 to 2004 he worked as a project lawyer at the Armenian Young Lawyers Association.
• From 2006 to 2007 he worked as a lawyer at the “Hayastan” All-Armenian Fund.
• From 2008 to he worked as a judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Tavush region.
• By the proposal submitted according to the decision SJC-16-O-30, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia of 4 July, 2018, he was appointed Chairman of the Court of First Instance of Tavush Marz for a term of three years.
• From 1996 to 1998 he served in the RA Armed Forces.

In 2011, when Arman Kurkhyan was a judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Tavush region, his income amounted to 7 million 30 thousand AMD, which was received from the salary and loans received.

In 2012, the income amounted to 7 million 159 thousand AMD, which was received from 2 salaries and 2 loans.

In 2013, his funds amounted to 2 million AMD, his income amounted to 6 million 927 thousand AMD, which was received from the salary and loans received.

In 2014, the funds decreased slightly, amounting to 1 million 700 thousand AMD, and the income – about 5.5 million AMD, which was received the salary and loans received.

In 2015, the judge’s funds amounted to 2 million 300 thousand AMD, income – 7 million 255 thousand AMD, which was received from 2 salaries and borrowing.

In 2016, Arman Kurakheyan’s funds amounted to 2.5 million AMD, income – 7.2 million AMD, which was received from 2 salaries – $ 3,000, which was received from a loan.

In 2017, his funds reached 4.5 million AMD, his income – 9 million 56 thousand AMD, which was received from his salary and loan.

On 4 July, 2018, Arman Kurekhyan assumed the position of President of the Court of General Jurisdiction of Tavush Region. At that time he declared:

• 1 apartment in an apartment building in Ijevan,
• 5 million AMD
• Income of 3 million 324 thousand AMD, received from 2 salaries.

Already in the annual declaration of 2018, his funds have slightly decreased, amounting to 4.2 million AMD, his income amounted to 7 million 627 thousand AMD from salaries.

According to the declaration submitted in 2019, Arman Kurekhyan owns an apartment in Ijevan, which he acquired back in 1997. His funds at the end of the year in cash amounted to 2.3 million AMD. Revenues amounted to 10 million 800 thousand AMD, which was received from the salary. The statement states that Arman Kurekhyan is a member of the Association of Judges of the Republic of Armenia, the Union of Judges of the RA.

In 2019, Arman Kurekhyan’s wife Varduhi Sargsyan declared ․

• A garage in Yerevan,
• 2 Mercedes-Benz cars of 2000 և 2008 production, one of which was purchased for 3 million AMD, the other was sold for 1 million AMD,
• $ 7,000
• 480 thousand rubles, which she received as donation.

Nothing is mentioned in the declarations submitted by the judge’s underage daughter Milena Kurekhyan in 2017 and 2018.

In addition in the declaration for 2018 of the judge there were mentioned 2 apartments, in the 2019 declaration – 1 apartment in Ijevan. Iravaban.net contacted him to find out where the second apartment is, why it is not mentioned in the 2019 declaration, in response to which the judge commented that there was a technical error, he has one Apartment in Ijevan, bought in 1997.

Yervand Khundkaryan was born in 1972 in the city of Yerevan.

• In 1994 he graduated from the evening department of YSU Faculty of Law.
• From 1993 to 1994 he worked in the Supreme Court of the Republic of Armenia as the Secretary of the Court Sessions of the Judicial Board of Criminal Cases.
• From 1994 to 1996 he held the position of Senior Adviser of the Legislation Coordination Division of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Armenia, then Senior Adviser of the Judicial Board of Criminal Cases of the Supreme Court of the Republic of Armenia.
• From 1998 to 1999 he was a senior advisor to the Supreme Court of the Republic of Armenia.
• From 1999 to 2001 he worked in the RA Court of Criminal and Military Appeals as an assistant judge.
• From 2001 to 2008 he worked as a judge of the RA Economic Court.
• Since 1 January, 2008 he has been a judge of the RA Civil Court of Appeal.
• On 8 October, 2008, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia, he was appointed a judge of the Civil and Administrative Chamber of the Court of Cassation of the Republic of Armenia.
• On 17 September, 2010, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia, he was appointed Chairman of the Civil-Administrative Chamber of the Court of Cassation of the Republic of Armenia.
• From 28 October, 2010 to 1 August, 2014 he was the Chairman of the Training Commission of the Council of Court Chairmen of the Republic of Armenia.
• From 2010 to 2013 he was the Chairman of the Board of the Judicial School of the Republic of Armenia.
• On 20 September, 2013, he was elected a member of the Governing Board of the Academy of Justice.
• On 25 July, 2014, he was elected a member of the Training Commission of the General Assembly of Judges of the Republic of Armenia by the General Assembly of Judges of the Republic of Armenia.
• On 31 July, 2014 he was elected Chairman of the Training Commission of the General Assembly of Judges of the Republic of Armenia.
• In 2016 he was the Chairman of the Board of the Academy of Justice.
• On 22 December, 2017, he was elected a member of the Governing Board of the Academy of Justice.
• In 2018, he was the Chairman of the Board of the Academy of Justice.
• On 20 July, 2018, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia, he was appointed Chairman of the Civil and Administrative Chamber of the Court of Cassation of the Republic of Armenia for a term of 6 years.
• On the basis of Article 166, Part 5 of the RA Constitution, Article 142, Part 6 of the Constitutional Law “Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly”, on 13 September, 2018, the RA National Assembly elected him the Chairman of the RA Court of Cassation for a term of 6 years.
• On 25 January, 2020, he was elected Chairman of the Governing Board of the Academy of Justice.
• On 28 April, 2017, the General Assembly of the Union of Judges of the Republic of Armenia elected him President of the “Union of Judges of the Republic of Armenia” NGO.

Other information

• From 1996 to 1998 he served in the RA Armed Forces.
• On 18 September, 2014, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia, on the occasion of the Independence Day of the Republic of Armenia, he was awarded the “Mkhitar Gosh” Medal for his contribution to the development of the judicial system.
• On 29 December, 2017, by the decree of the President of the Republic of Armenia, he was awarded the honorary title of Honored Lawyer of the Republic of Armenia for his contribution to the strengthening of the rule of law.
• On 18 January, 2020, by the decree of the President of the Artsakh Republic, he was awarded the “Mkhitar Gosh” Medal of the Nagorno Karabakh Republic for his great contribution to the strengthening of cooperation between the judicial systems of the Artsakh Republic and the Republic of Armenia.

According to the declaration submitted in 2011, , when Yervand Khundkaryan was the chairman of the Civil and Administrative Chamber of the RA Court of Cassation, his financial means amounted to 6000 USD and 7 million AMD. Revenues amounted to 9 million 204 thousand AMD, which was received from the salary.

In 2012 , his financial means increased significantly, amounting to 6000 USD and 12 million AMD, the income was received from his salary – 9 million 455 thousand AMD.

In 2013, the judge’s funds increased again, amounting to 6000 USD and 16 million AMD, the income was received from the salary 9 million 785 thousand AMD.

In 2014, Khundkaryan declared a LEXUS GX 470 car worth 10 million AMD. In the same year, he alienated a GAZ 3110 car for 3 million 300 thousand AMD. His funds remained unchanged – 6000 USD and 16 million AMD. Revenues amounted to 22 million 911 thousand AMD, which was received from 2 salaries, a loan, a payment for the alienation of property.

In 2015, Yervand Khundkaryan’s funds remained the same, the income amounted to 11 million 708 thousand AMD, which was received from 2 salaries.

In 2016, his funds increased to 6000 USD, and 22 million AMD. Revenues amounted to 11 million 816 thousand AMD, which was received from salaries.

In 2017, Khundkaryan’s funds increased again, amounting to 6000 USD, and 19 million AMD. Revenues amounted to 12 million 357 thousand AMD, which was received from 3 salaries, and 297 EUR, which was received from other income.

In 2018, he assumed the position of President of the Court of Cassation. He did not submit a declaration when assuming the new position, and according to the annual declaration, his funds remained the same, the income amounted to 12 million 72 thousand AMD, which was received from 3 salaries and 1526 EUR, which was received from 2 other incomes.

In 2019, Yervand Khundkaryan’s funds in bank accounts amounted to 47 thousand AMD, 60 EUR, cash – 22 million AMD, 6000 USD, and 2 million AMD, which is owned by his underage son, Davit Khundkaryan. His income amounted to 17 million 128 thousand AMD, which was received from 3 salaries, 2 million drams was donated from Anik Artash Baghdasaryan, 1612 EUR, which was received from the Council of Europe.

His statement also mentions that he is the chairman of the “Union of Judges of the Republic of Armenia” non-governmental organization.

Yervand Khundkaryan’s wife, Ruzanna Gevorgyan, declared 4 million AMD in 2011-2019.

The statements submitted by the judge’s son, Henrik Khundkaryan in 2015, 2018, 2019, do not mention anything, they are empty – the statements submitted by his next son, Davit Khundkaryan in 2017, 2018 were also empty.

Thus, as of 2019, Arman Kurekhyan’s salary from other sources is 10 million 800 thousand AMD, and his savings are 2.3 million AMD. Yervand Khundkaryan’s savings amount to 24 million AMD – 6000 USD, income from salary – other sources – 19 million 128 thousand USD and 1612 EUR.