Hraparak: We are facing a constitutional chaos, says former high court official
Hraparak Daily has talked to Edgar Ghazarayan, a former chief of staff at the Constitutional Court:
In what way is President Armen Sarkissian’s application to the Constitutional Court – in connection with the law “On Military Service and the Status of Serviceman” – expected to affect the ongoing processes? Does Onik Gasparyan have any chances of re-appointment?
I cannot say anything given that the Constitutional Court has its own procedure of examining cases. Nobody can predict what decisions the Constitutional Court can make and what consequence or effect those decisions will have on the processes.
But Onik Gasparyan’s re-appointment, for example, may be a decision in point of fact. Is such a thing legally possible?
I hesitate to say it now. Anyway, I don’t think that such a decision is possible to make.
What decision do you expect then?
You know that our country – and the legal system on the whole – has plunged into a chaos … With a sober logic, unfortunately, it isn’t possible to envision - and interpret - our social life. While you say Constitutional Court, I insist that this Constitutional Court is anti-constitutional in essence. If it is really a Constitutional Court, what then does Vahe Grigoryan have to do there? How come that Arman Dilanyan is now its chairman? How did the [newly appointed] three judges make their way into that institution? First, it is an anti-constitutional body as it is. Secondly, the president himself breached all the possible logical chains after he sent back the draft decree submitted to him to the prime minister with objections, highlighting the factor of anti-constitutionality. The prime minister immediately returned it to the president and the latter did not apply to the CC; instead, he sent the laws to the high court. Why doesn’t he similarly send also the law “On the Protection of Children’s Rights” to the Constitutional Court? The prime minister has now announced that Onik Gasparyan’s authority [as the chief of the general staff of the Armed Forces] was terminated "by force of law". It is not clear at all whether or not he accepts that. The rest of the command of the Armed Forces still insists on the prime minister’s resignation. And now they have released a statement saying that they are fulfilling Onik Gasparyan’s order. How are they doing that if they are appointing a new chief [of the General Headquarters]? To cut it short, there isn’t any layer in the society to rely on. Those people seem to have adequate thinking; what the hell are they facing now?
Did the president’s move [to apply to the high court] bear a legally formal character?
Not a formal character but rather a cunning step characterizing the president. And maybe he did really succeed in his efforts. I saw a headline reading: “President Turns to the Constiutional Court”. Many people are now thinking that he did – but with an absolutely different issue. The disputable norm was the presidential decree on sacking Onik Gasparyan as the chief of the General Headquarters. He demonstrated inaction with respect to that particular norm; it amounts to a criminal inaction. If you now turn to 10 different lawyers, you are sure to hear 10 different opinions. And it has nothing to do with those lawyers at all; it’s all about this situation, with the piblic life having long gone beyond the domain of the Constitution and legal relations. We are now living in a constituitional chaos.
What are the procedures at the Constitutional Court? In what timeframes is the president expected to consider the application?
The Constitutional Court has declared that it has received the application. So it has now to be assigned to a specific judge and undergo a preliminary study to be presented at a scheduled working session, which is then to decide on its admissibility. There are specific timeframes for each particular case; I don’t remember all of them by heart now.
You said that if you turn to 10 different lawyers, you are sure to hear different interpretations. In this atmosphere of disagreements and contradictions though, the prime minister is appointing a new chief of the General Headquarters.
How can he possibly make a new appointment now that Onik Gasparyan’s dismissal from office is still legally disputable?
Videos
![](/cache_video/video_images/17/49315_3/ebrd.thumb-550x310.png)
Interview with Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director
![](/cache_video/video_images/67/199285_3/april_24.thumb-550x310.png)
Armenians Commemorating 106th Anniversary of Genocide
![](/cache_video/video_images/67/199086_3/biden_genocide_v3.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Biden Under Pressure to Recognize Armenian Genocide - KTLA 5 News
![](/cache_video/video_images/17/48505_3/untitled_v4.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Governance and Oversight Capacities Account for Our Bank's Robust Management System - Philip Lynch, Independent Board Member at Ameriabank
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YsUfAAHX-Bs/maxresdefault.jpg)
'Mr. President, It Is Now in Your Power to Right Decades of Denial' - US Congressman Adam Schiff Urges Joe Biden to Recognize Armenian Genocide
![](/cache_video/video_images/17/48048_3/untitled.thumb-550x310.png)
Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in Despair After Trauma of Military Defeat - France 24
![](/cache_video/video_images/65/193399_3/ef.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Interview with Kakhaber Kiknavelidze, an Independent Member of Ameriabank Board of Directors
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/YgKLSoO1JU4/maxresdefault.jpg)
Only Terrorists Keep Hostages, Putting Forward Preconditions for Their Release - Edmon Marukyan
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/GCXrePjX--E/maxresdefault.jpg)
Rep Adam Schiff Says Congress Should Recognize Artsakh
![](/cache_video/video_images/16/45838_3/un_v2.thumb-550x310.jpg)
UN's Guterres Issues Global Appeal to Make 2021 'Year of Healing'
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/rzmd7RouGrM/maxresdefault.jpg)
NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Animations
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/oCKNREhXAoo/maxresdefault.jpg)
Azerbaijan Uses Prohibited Phosphorus Chemical Munitions - Defense Army Video
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wVdiJ8AdQx0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Arms Supplies
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/AzLOovjnkdo/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Drone
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/44149_3/zohrab_mnatsakanyan.thumb-550x310.png)
Nagorno-Karabakh's Status Has Been At the Heart of Our Approach - Zohrab Mnatsakanyan
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/86_V0iUxKBQ/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Releases Video Featuring Damaged Azerbaijani Military Equipment
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/r7h5Lu4D8Ww/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Inflicting Manpower Losses on Azerbaijan
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/I4vTMFuEjqs/maxresdefault.jpg)
Gas Pipeline Damaged in Azerbaijani Fire Targeting Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/8EvGzTYdK5c/maxresdefault.jpg)
President Armen Sarkissian Meets Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/u96OSWiG0O0/maxresdefault.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizes Azerbaijani Military Hardware
![](/cache_video/video_images/59/174611_3/frontline.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Military Infrastructures
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/1G5TqYmDBew/maxresdefault.jpg)
President Armen Sarkissian Meets with NATO Secretary-General in Brussels
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/44003_3/stepanakert_1.thumb-550x310.png)
Buildings and Homes Lying in Ruins in Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital After Azerbaijani Shelling
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/43969_3/fire.thumb-550x310.png)
Artsakh Defense Army's Precision Fire Gives Deadly Blow to Enemy
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173649_3/tanks.thumb-550x310.png)
Artsakh Defense Army Units Destroying Azerbaijani Tank
![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/n91BdmvGi2E/maxresdefault.jpg)
Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Ceasefire Does not Mandate Azerbaijan to Kill Civilians and Hit Civilian Settlements
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173520_3/la.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Armenians Protest Outside Turkrish Embassy in Los Angeles
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173280_3/artsakh.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Losses in Azerbaijan's Military Featured in Defense Army Footage
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173240_3/transport_column.thumb-550x310.png)
Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizing Adversary's Transport Column
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173229_3/abc.thumb-550x310.png)
Turkey openly backs Azerbaijan 'far more aggressively than in the past' - ABC News on Syrian mercenaries fighting in Karabakh
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173091_3/church.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Iconic Armenian Church Hit in Azerbaijani Attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh City (photos)
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/173013_3/strikes.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Artsakh Defense Army Continues High-Precision Strikes
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/43777_3/mep.thumb-550x310.png)
War Situation in Karabakh on European Parliament's Agenda
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/172572_3/armnews.thumb-550x310.png)
Call for Urgent Action: Armenian Journalist Brings Intn'l Colleagues' Attention to Situation iin Artsakh After Azerbaijani Attacks
![](/cache_video/video_images/15/43689_3/artsakh_n.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Turkey's Support to Syrian Mercenaries Fighting Against Artsakh: Facts About Azerbaijani Aggression
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/172396_3/stepanakert.thumb-550x310.png)
Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital Under Azerbaijani Strikes
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/172248_3/video.thumb-550x310.jpg)
Armenian Armed Forces Neutralize Azerbaijani Defense Positions
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/171448_3/fighting.thumb-550x310.jpg)
ArmenianTroops Destroy Azerbaijani Armored Fighting Vehicle on Frontline
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/171424_3/f5f723cbfd6d50_5f723cbfd6da4.thumb-550x310.jpg)
There is a solid evidence that Azerbaijan has launched a thoroughly planned attack on the NKR
![](/cache_video/video_images/58/171353_3/eu_karabakh.thumb-550x310.png)
EU calls for Immediate End to Hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh
-
15:20 • 24.05.21 Interview with Francis Malige, EBRD Managing Director
-
11:39 • 24.04.21 Armenians Commemorating 106th Anniversary of Genocide
-
09:40 • 23.04.21 Biden Under Pressure to Recognize Armenian Genocide - KTLA 5 News
-
15:34 • 22.04.21 Governance and Oversight Capacities Account for Our Bank's Robust Management System - Philip Lynch, Independent Board Member at Ameriabank
-
14:09 • 21.04.21 'Mr. President, It Is Now in Your Power to Right Decades of Denial' - US Congressman Adam Schiff Urges Joe Biden to Recognize Armenian Genocide
-
12:37 • 03.04.21 Armenians of Nagorno-Karabakh in Despair After Trauma of Military Defeat - France 24
-
17:33 • 11.03.21 Interview with Kakhaber Kiknavelidze, an Independent Member of Ameriabank Board of Directors
-
17:57 • 26.01.21 Only Terrorists Keep Hostages, Putting Forward Preconditions for Their Release - Edmon Marukyan
-
13:33 • 22.01.21 Rep Adam Schiff Says Congress Should Recognize Artsakh
-
09:42 • 29.12.20 UN's Guterres Issues Global Appeal to Make 2021 'Year of Healing'
-
18:41 • 24.12.20 NASA's Mars 2020 Perseverance Rover Landing Animations
-
13:33 • 31.10.20 Azerbaijan Uses Prohibited Phosphorus Chemical Munitions - Defense Army Video
-
16:37 • 30.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Arms Supplies
-
11:25 • 28.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Drone
-
13:45 • 24.10.20 Nagorno-Karabakh's Status Has Been At the Heart of Our Approach - Zohrab Mnatsakanyan
-
11:51 • 24.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Releases Video Featuring Damaged Azerbaijani Military Equipment
-
11:40 • 24.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Inflicting Manpower Losses on Azerbaijan
-
10:39 • 24.10.20 Gas Pipeline Damaged in Azerbaijani Fire Targeting Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital
-
12:41 • 23.10.20 President Armen Sarkissian Meets Emmanuel Macron at Élysée Palace
-
12:16 • 23.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizes Azerbaijani Military Hardware
-
12:02 • 22.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Neutralizing Azerbaijani Military Infrastructures
-
10:35 • 22.10.20 President Armen Sarkissian Meets with NATO Secretary-General in Brussels
-
10:51 • 17.10.20 Buildings and Homes Lying in Ruins in Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital After Azerbaijani Shelling
-
15:09 • 15.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army's Precision Fire Gives Deadly Blow to Enemy
-
13:13 • 13.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Units Destroying Azerbaijani Tank
-
12:56 • 12.10.20 Zohrab Mnatsakanyan: Ceasefire Does not Mandate Azerbaijan to Kill Civilians and Hit Civilian Settlements
-
12:23 • 12.10.20 Armenians Protest Outside Turkrish Embassy in Los Angeles
-
17:23 • 09.10.20 Losses in Azerbaijan's Military Featured in Defense Army Footage
-
15:53 • 09.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Neutralizing Adversary's Transport Column
-
14:11 • 09.10.20 Turkey openly backs Azerbaijan 'far more aggressively than in the past' - ABC News on Syrian mercenaries fighting in Karabakh
-
15:52 • 08.10.20 Iconic Armenian Church Hit in Azerbaijani Attacks in Nagorno-Karabakh City (photos)
-
10:57 • 08.10.20 Artsakh Defense Army Continues High-Precision Strikes
-
14:24 • 07.10.20 War Situation in Karabakh on European Parliament's Agenda
-
19:31 • 05.10.20 Call for Urgent Action: Armenian Journalist Brings Intn'l Colleagues' Attention to Situation iin Artsakh After Azerbaijani Attacks
-
16:17 • 04.10.20 Turkey's Support to Syrian Mercenaries Fighting Against Artsakh: Facts About Azerbaijani Aggression
-
12:39 • 04.10.20 Nagorno-Karabakh's Capital Under Azerbaijani Strikes
-
13:49 • 03.10.20 Armenian Armed Forces Neutralize Azerbaijani Defense Positions
-
10:12 • 29.09.20 ArmenianTroops Destroy Azerbaijani Armored Fighting Vehicle on Frontline
-
23:42 • 28.09.20 There is a solid evidence that Azerbaijan has launched a thoroughly planned attack on the NKR
-
18:45 • 28.09.20 EU calls for Immediate End to Hostilities over Nagorno-Karabakh
Most popular articles Today Yesterday For a week
-
Politics 14:02 • 22/07 Kamala Harris: I will do everything in my power to defeat Donald Trump With President Joe Biden opting out of the US presidential race and endorsing his Vice President as the Democrats nominee, Kamala Harris, praised his extraordinary leadership and affirmed her bid for the elections On
-
Event 12:57 • 25/07 Climate protest at Frankfurt Airport forces a temporary halt to flights Federal police said several demonstrators got into the airport in the early morning, German news agency dpa reported. The Last Generation group said six protesters cut holes in the perimeter fence and headed toward the runways on foot, bicycles and skateboards.
-
Economy 17:56 • 25/07 Ameriabank Receives 3 Awards for Excellence by Euromoney: the Best Bank, the Best Digital Bank, and the Best Bank for SMEs in Armenia for 2024 For the Best Bank for SMEs in Armenia award, the jury emphasized Ameriabank’s continued strength in financing small and mid-sized enterprises.
-
Event 13:08 • 25/07 The Renovated Ucom Sales and Service Center Opened at Komitas 60 At the renovated center, customers can access Ucom's fixed-line, mobile, and Internet services, receive expert guidance from consultants, and shop for various devices such as smartphones, headphones, smartwatches, tablets, and more.
Politics
-
10:44 • 03.07.24 Biden’s latest excuse: Blame it on the travel
Law
-
15:33 • 13.06.24 Archbishop Bagrat Galstanyan: Abraham Gasparyan has been tortured
Economy
-
13:48 • 16.07.24 Ucom’s fixed network has reached Byureghavan
Event
-
18:45 • 25.07.24 Unibank and Visa are gifting a trip to Tunisia for two
-
13:08 • 25.07.24 The Renovated Ucom Sales and Service Center Opened at Komitas 60
Science/tech
-
14:18 • 08.05.24 AstraZeneca withdrawing Covid vaccine worldwide