The Judicial Code of the Republic of Armenia, with the amendments adopted in 2022, provides that the norms regarding the establishment of the Anti-Corruption Court of Appeal will enter into force on 1 January, 2024.

However, in the context of the presented legal regulation, before the entry into force of the above-mentioned norms, there is a situation when anti-corruption cases are examined by the specialized Anti-Corruption Court, but the Civil Court of Appeal and the Criminal Court of Appeal carry out re-examination of the acts made in those corruption cases. The normal and full life activity of the institute requires that the specialization factor be clearly expressed in all courts with the jurisdiction to examine this type of cases earlier than the deadline set by the law, which is planned for 15 June of this year.

The RA Deputy Minister of Justice Levon Balyan spoke about this at the NA session on 2 May.

In the first reading, the Parliament discussed the package of Drafts authored by the Government “On Amendments and Additions to the Constitutional Law of the Republic of Armenia Judicial Code” and the attached drafts.

According to the Deputy Minister, it was necessary to make appropriate changes, that is, to set an earlier date (15 June) in the law of 23 December, 2022, “On Making Changes to the Law “On the Remuneration of Persons Holding Public Positions and Public Service Positions”” because by virtue of the first and second parts of the law, the judges of the Anti-Corruption Court of Appeal, depending on the field of activity, based on the riskiness, it is planned to be provided a supplement in accordance with the procedure established by the law, starting from 1 January, 2024.

In reply to MP Artsvik Minasyan’s question regarding the revision of the amount of remuneration of judges and their assistants, Levon Balyan noted that a legislative initiative on increasing the amount of remuneration will be submitted to the Parliament in the near future.

According to the reporter, it is anticipated to have 12 judges in the Anti-Corruption Court of Appeal. The Deputy Minister of Justice of RA also referred to the building conditions of the courts, noting that measures are being taken to have courts that meet international standards.

Arusyak Julhakyan, the Deputy Chair of the Committee, presented the positive conclusion of the Standing Committee on State-Legal Affairs of the National Assembly.