OSCE Office supports publication of high court decisions review

An OSCE-supported publication comprising legal review, analysis and interpretations of selected decisions of the Armenian Cassation Court was presented today in Yerevan.

The publication covers cases related to human rights and fundamental freedoms in front of the Armenian Cassation Court, which is the highest judicial instance in Armenia, except on constitutional issues. It was prepared by the Association of Judges in partnership with the Armenian Cassation Court and with the support of the OSCE Office in Yerevan as a contribution to judicial reform and strengthening of judicial independence, integrity and competence.

"A strong judicial system is an essential means of securing basic rights of people,” said Ambassador Sergey Kapinos, the Head of the OSCE Office in Yerevan. “Judicial independence and impartiality are important for ensuring public confidence in the authorities. The Cassation Court has a vital role to play in interpreting the law, unifying the legal practice and thus ensuring equality of treatment and consistency of decisions.”

The publication of a detailed analysis of 30 decisions on most controversial criminal cases will be distributed among judges and lawyers, as well as made available to the general public. It is expected to reduce the number of the Cassation Court appeals as lawyers and individuals will be better informed about similar decisions taken in the past.

Some 60 representatives of the Armenian judiciary, state institutions, prosecutors, lawyers, academia, advocates, students and international organizations attended the launch of the publication.

Professor Vahe Yengibaryan, Executive Director of the Association of Judges of Armenia, said: “It is for the first time that this sort of legal analysis is being done. Lawyers, defenders and the prosecution often express different opinions on the same issue, and there has been a definite need for a unified approach to be taken by the Cassation Court. This explanatory publication will serve the needs of not only judges and lawyers, but also of the public at large”.