* OUR CONVERSATION WITH VARDAN AYVAZYAN AT THE END.

The Head of the Chair of Constitutional Law of the Faculty of Law of Yerevan State University, constitutional law specialist Vardan Ayvazyan had an interview with Aravot.am related to the Concept of Establishing a Supreme Court adopted by the Professional Committee on Constitutional Reforms as a result of voting (it envisages the unification of the Constitutional Courts and the Court of Cassation and the decentralization of Constitutional control is envisages), 

The interview was entitled: “People who voted” for “the union of the Constitutional Court the Court of Cassation have started dismantling the statehood. Vardan Ayvazyan.”

It should be noted that in this interview, Ayvazyan made statements in some parts containing violations of the rules of professional ethics, even insulting expressions addressed to the members of the Professional Committee on Constitutional Reforms, thus tarnishing the reputation and honor of YSU State University.

Let us bring some quotes․

• “What task does the government set by uniting the Constitutional Court and the Court of Cassation in one, the Supreme Court?” “It presupposes the implementation of the Soros program. And that program is very simple. The first is to deprive people of intelligence. “

In the mentioned section, at least it is not clear why the citizens will lose their minds as a result of the unification of the two courts.

• To be more vivid, our interlocutor makes such a comparison. “When, for example, a doctor is so literate that when treating a patient with coronavirus, he or she inserts an artificial respirator into the patient’s buttocks instead of into the nose or mouth.”

It is noteworthy that, at least in recent months, due to coronavirus, the public in Armenia has begun to appreciate the work of medical workers and such a comparison with the provision of oxygen to a sick, helpless, fighting for life person mildly saying is not correct.

Annex 1 of the decision # 1408 – N of the Government of the Republic of Armenia of 27 November, 2014, the charter of the “Yerevan State University” Foundation is defined.

Article 103 of the Charter states that the scientific, pedagogical staff of YSU Chair includes professors, associate professors, assistants and lecturers. Point 107 mentions that the activity of the head of the chair is considered a scientific-pedagogical work.

Clause 131 stipulates that YSU employees are obliged to:

• observe and comply with the requirements of this charter, YSU internal disciplinary rules and other internal legal acts, permanently improve their professional qualification, at least once every 5 years: to undergo training or professional development in accordance with the established procedure,
• to fulfill responsibilities envisaged by the legislation of the Republic of Armenia, YSU charter, internal disciplinary rules, YSU other internal legal acts.

In this regard, the professional community will be interested to know when the last time Vardan Ayvazyan, Head of the Department of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law of Yerevan State University, underwent retraining on the rules of professional ethics.

By the decision N 6/2 of YSU Academic Council of 26 March, 2015, the new edition of the internal disciplinary rules of “Yerevan State University” Foundation was approved.

Point 26 of the internal disciplinary rules states what responsibilities YSU employees have, including:

• to fulfill the responsibilities envisaged by the Labor Code, the RA Law on Education, the RA Law on Higher Postgraduate Professional Education, YSU Charter, the rules of internal discipline, YSU internal legal acts, employment contract or individual legal acts,
• to keep YSU honor and prestige high,
• behave decently in the workplace, following compliance with the rules of social coexistence..

It is a pity, but the fact is that the head of one of the departments of Alma Mater, a person carrying out scientific and pedagogical work, allows exemplary behavior, expresses expressions that are not in line with professional ethics, which certainly do not bring honor and prestige to YSU, but also makes the honor and reputation of YSU vulnerable.

Other quotes from the interview ․ 

• “Deprivation of statehood leads to the destruction of national identity and the dismantling of statehood is replaced by the power of Facebook, the menus of smartphones and iPhones. Now, in fact, those eight members of the commission who voted ‘for’ have started dismantling the statehood.”
• “This is the first step to eliminate our national identity after the loss of statehood and to create a new human model who must be free from morality and responsibility, and this is a global trend. If we do not take action against this, we will have very bad consequences in terms of national security.”
• “We have a darkening of the mind – schizophrenia, without understanding, without effort, without gaining knowledge, to make a disgraceful, incomprehensible experiment with the state and society. This is the most serious crime,” Vardan Ayvazyan said, adding that he was ready to debate live with the members who voted “for” the Constitutional reforms on this TV channel and prove their bankruptcy.

The above-mentioned shows that Vardan Ayvazyan, Head of the Chair of Constitutional Law at the Faculty of Law of Yerevan State University, committed violations of the rules of professional ethics, thus violating at least the YSU Charter.

Therefore, the YSU leadership is obliged to assess the facts mentioned in this article in accordance with the YSU Charter, internal disciplinary rules, to discuss the issue of subjecting Vardan Ayvazyan to disciplinary responsibility. And the latter, we think, should show professional courage – apologize to the professional community, including members of the Professional Committee on Constitutional Reforms.

Iravaban.net contacted Vardan Ayvazyan. We present the conversation below:

• Ayvazyan, there are some expressions in your interview, which from the side look quite insulting, why not, they seem out of ethics, there is a comparison related to the medical intervention, etc. Do you think you have violated any rules of ethics? 
• Let me tell you that I have not violated any rule, if someone is offended by it, thinks that the rule has been violated, they can protect their violated rights through legal tools. I think that no rules of ethics have been violated.
• It is also about the members of the Professional Committee, in particular the members who voted “for”, if there is any demand, are you ready to apologize to the commission?
• Absolutely not. Should I apologize to the Committee for the debate, sorry, what kind of childishness is this? I just do not understand, if there are complaints, let them apply to the relevant bodies, I will answer, now let’s say what it means to apologize, etc. Did they apply to you?
• They did not apply to me, Mr. Ayvazyan, as a journalist I am asking you a question, and I want to clarify, was my question childish for you? 
• No, now you are already starting on the hang on the words, etc., what exactly do you want now, tell me, and let me tell you. I am not going to apologize to anyone, if they find that their interests have been violated, I said that they are also lawyers, let them defend their rights by their legal means.
• I am a journalist, I am asking my question and I wanted to hear the answer to my question, which I gave from the very first word. Thank you for the answer.
• You are welcome.

Alisa Chilingaryan