Տhere are often cases իn the judicial system of the Republic of Armenia, when there are child-parent, other relative or family ties between different judges or judges and other high-ranking state officials. Such connections create a significant risk of referral of cases to the court system, as interested family, relative or friendship groups are able to contact judges to secure the adoption of necessary judicial acts.
It should be noted that any judge is obliged ” to avoid any conflict of interest, exclude that family, social or other relationships influence the exercise of his or her official powers in any way” (Article 70 of the RA Judicial Code). Let’s see to what extent it is reasonable to expect that the mentioned requirement of the RA Judicial Code is observed in the conditions of family and friendship ties existing in the judicial system.
Consider the following examples of friendly relations in the judicial system.
- Drmeyans
On 03.11.2022, Lili Mamikoni Drmeyan was appointed a judge specializing in civil cases of the Anti-Corruption Court by the decree of the RA President No. NH-313-A .
At that time, her father, Mamikon Drmeyan, served in the Court of Cassation. According to the decision of the Supreme Judicial Council of 8 February, 2023, the powers of Judge Mamikon Drmeyan of the Court of Cassation were terminated from 12 February, due to the expiration of the term of office.
- Chichoyans
Armen Chichoyan, a Third Class State Councillor of Justice, holds the position of the prosecutor of the Ararat Marz of the Republic of Armenia. On 15 September, 2022, his son, Zhora Chichoyan , was appointed a judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of the city of Yerevan.
Armen Chichoyan’s brother, Sergey Chichoyan, has been a judge since 1999. He held the positions of judge, president of the court, president of the Northern Criminal Court in the first instance court of Gegharkunik region. In 2009, he was appointed a judge of the Criminal Court of Appeal. Sergey Chichoyan was a member of the RA Council of Justice from 2014 to 2018. Since 2018, he has been elected a member of the RA Supreme Judicial Council for a 5-year term. By the RA President’s Decree NH-337-A of 8 June, 2018, he was appointed as a judge of the First Instance Court of Gegharkunik Marz.
Anushavan Musheghyan , who currently holds the position of judge in the First Instance Court of Kotayk marz, is also related to the Chichoyans. He is the husband of Sergey Chichoyan’s daughter, Lilya Chichoyan. He has been holding the position of judge since November 2021.
Thus, the Chichoyans’ family is represented by 3 judges and 1 prosecutor in RA state bodies.
- Arghamanyans
Mher Arghamanyan has been a judge in the RA Criminal Court of Appeals since 1999. On 20 October, 2021, his son, Davit Arghamanyan , was appointed as a judge of the Court of General Jurisdiction of the city of Yerevan by the decree of the RA President.
- Khandanyans
Rafik Khandanyan was appointed as a judge of the Administrative Court of Appeals in on 21 November, 2022 by the decree of the RA President No. NH-337-A. Before that, he worked as a judge of the Administrative Court of the RA since January 2013.
His father is Gagik Khandanyan, who has been a judge for many years, since 2000. On 8 January, 2016, the latter was appointed a judge of the RA Civil Court of Appeal by the decree of the RA President. According to the decision of the Supreme Judicial Council dated 5 October, 2021, his powers were terminated on the basis of violating the incompatibility requirements established by the Law on “Public Service”.
- Asatryans
Hamlet Asatryan was appointed to the position of the President of the Criminal Chamber of the RA Court of Cassation by the decree of the RA President on 18 February, 2021. His daughter, Zhanna Asatryan, is the assistant judge of the Court of Cassation.
- Harutyunyan – Poladyan – Poghosyan
The case of the Harutyunyan – Poladyan – Poghosyan family is special.
Thus, Ani Harutyunyan has been a judge in the RA Administrative Court since 31 January, 2013. Her husband, Tigran Poladyan, is also a judge. On 31 January, 2013, by the decree of the President, Tigran Poladyan was appointed as a judge of the First Instance Court of Kotayk Marz, of the RA. And by the decree of the RA President on 10 August, 2018, he was appointed a judge of the Bankruptcy Court. Tigran Poladyan’s brother is Karen Poladyan , who during the period of 2014-2021 held the position of the head of the Judicial Department of the Republic of Armenia.
Ani Harutyunyan is the daughter of Major General Grigor Harutyunyan , the former Deputy Director of National Security Service. Grigor Harutyunyan is the uncle of the former Deputy of the National Assembly, the Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer Mihran Poghosyan . In other words, judge Ani Harutyunyan and Mihran Poghosyan are siblings to each other. There are sources confirming their family connection on the Internet, and Ani Harutyunyan personally confirmed this connection.
Thus, the members of the Harutyunyan – Poladyan – Poghosyan families hold (or previously held) positions in the National Assembly, the National Security Service, the Judicial System, and the Compulsory Enforcement Service.
In this regard, let us also remind about one of the court cases in the center of our attention.
As we reported earlier, one of the court cases, related to the purchase of the area at 14 Aivazovsky, covered by Iravaban.net is currently being heard by the Judge of the Administrative Court Yelena Arakelyan.
According to the court case, the director of “Kecharis Hotel” LLC Ara Hakobyan filed a lawsuit against the Cadastre Committee, demanding to repeal the state registration of 10.12.2021 for the real estate at 14 Aivazovsky Street and to oblige to register the plaintiff’s ownership right to the same address.
The name of the plaintiff Ara Hakobyan is connected with Mihran Poghosyan, the former Deputy of the National Assembly, the Chief Compulsory Enforcement Officer, about which Iravaban.net has published a detailed article as well.
The study of Judge Yelena Arakelyan’s CV revealed she worked as an assistant judge of the RA Administrative Court in 2019-2021.
Judge Ani Harutyunyan also works in the same court. Yelena Arakelyan and Ani Harutyunyan have worked in the same court for a long time, and according to the information that has become known to us, they are friends.
