The Armenian government has requested the dismissal of Judge Vahe Misyakyan from his position following his acquittal of former President Serzh Sarkisyan on corruption charges earlier this year.
The official grounds for the disciplinary action against Misyakyan are related to his management of a separate trial involving Vazgen Manukyan. Manukyan, a long-time politician, faced charges in 2021 for allegedly calling for a violent coup against the government. He was convicted and fined 400,000 drams (about $1,000) in June.
The Ministry of Justice alleges that Misyakyan deliberately prolonged Manukyan’s trial. However, Misyakyan refutes this claim, stating that the trial’s extended duration was due to his heavy caseload and the failure of law enforcement to ensure Manukyan’s attendance at scheduled hearings. The Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) began hearings on the petition on Tuesday.
Misyakyan has refrained from addressing speculation that the real motive behind the Ministry’s request is his May acquittal of Sarkisyan after a four-year trial. He maintains his belief in Sarkisyan’s innocence.
On the same day as the SJC’s initial hearing on Misyakyan, prosecutors announced their intention to appeal Sarkisyan’s acquittal.
Misyakyan has previously faced reprimands from the judicial oversight body. A third disciplinary action could lead to his removal from the bench.
In July, the SJC, led by a political ally of Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, dismissed Judge Anna Danibekyan, who had overseen the protracted trial of Robert Kocharian, another former president in conflict with the current government. The trial, which concluded without a verdict in December, saw Kocharian invoke the statute of limitations, which expired in May 2023. The SJC supported the Justice Ministry’s assertion that Danibekyan failed to prevent delays.
Danibekyan’s dismissal fueled concerns among Armenian opposition leaders and legal experts about potential government attempts to undermine judicial independence under the guise of judicial reforms. The government denies such allegations.
SJC Chairman Karen Andreasyan, a former justice minister and member of Pashinyan’s Civil Contract party, has overseen a significant increase in disciplinary actions against judges. Many have been dismissed, including Davit Harutiunyan, who was removed in July 2023 after criticizing the SJC for arbitrary firings at the behest of a single individual.
