Yes, the Ministry of Justice will withdraw from the function of initiating proceedings for disciplinary action against judges. Minister Grigor Minasyan stated this during the press conference summarizing the work of 2023, in response to the question of Iravaban.net.

The Ministry presented for public discussion the change in the composition of the Commission on Ethics and Disciplinary Issues of Judges. It will consist of 11 members, of whom six will be from the judicial system, five from the CSO sector.

According to the Minister, judges who have been working together for many years “as a result of becoming close to each other” are unable to make such decisions that the public will evaluate objectively. “A very important change has been implemented as well: not to allow the practicing lawyer be the decision-maker against the judge. It was a classic conflict of interests.”

Grigor Minasyan also informed that at the end of December, the concept of constitutional reforms, elaborated jointly with the Commission and the Board, was presented to the Government. One part of the draft was approved by the Commission, the other by the Board.

“The discussion will begin this month, after which the concept will be presented to public,” Minasyan said.

The Minister assured that all issues are being resolved by open, transparent voting, and there is no issue that will pass with one or two votes, which means that the draft will be a consensus, with a common denominator with the public sector, presented by the Commission. “This is very important, taking into account the experience of the past years,” the Minister of Justice added.

Details in the video.