The Judicial and Legal Reform Strategy 2019-2023 envisages amendments to the Civil Procedure Code and the Law on Mediation. These changes provide for the establishment of mandatory mediation disputes over certain legal relationships, such as family, work, banking, and etc.

Iravaban.net talked about the topic with advocate and mediator Ms Nazely Ter-Petrosyan, who expressed her opinion on the planned changes.

According to the mediator, mandatory mediation can be established only for family cases, which will allow unloading the courts. This mainly refers to divorce cases.

The strategy envisages taking steps to introduce modern tools for mediation: for example, online or telephone mediation to resolve disputes between consumers and public service organizations. It is noted that through such a platform, disputes can be resolved in a short period of time, at a lower cost to the consumer or even free of charge through a public service provider, but the mediator notes that this change will not have a positive effect.

“Online or telephone mediation cannot be effective; the main mediation toolkit assumes contact with stakeholders,” she said.

To the question whether she assess the changes made in the sphere as sufficient, the mediator said, “I consider it sufficient, but I consider it obligatory to have a general discussion on any change with the representatives of the given community.”