Justice minister: Everyone sees in CC decision what they want to see

Armenian Justice Minister Hrayr Tovmasian advises everyone to refrain from voicing assumptions and conclusions not stemming from the Constitutional Court’s (CC) decision about the Law on the Compulsory Accumulative Pension System.

The minister wrote on his Facebook page: “We all heard the decision of the Constitutional Court. The reactions are diverse and conflicting at the moment. In the Constitutional Court’s decision, everyone sees what they want to see. I call upon everyone, especially lawyers, to refrain from voicing assumptions and conclusions not stemming from the Constitutional Court’s decision. It is clear that the CC decision is yet another step towards the development of the legal system. I am sure that it will contribute to a more efficient pension system in Armenia”.

The Constitutional Court of Armenia today recognized as unconstitutional a number of provisions of the Law on the Compulsory Accumulative Pension System.

The CC Chairman Gagik Harutyunian read the court decision saying that the use of the compulsory component restricts the application of a number of articles of the Armenian Constitution, in particular, the protection of citizens’ right of property. Besides, the law does not take into account the requirements to ensure the minimum consumer basket.

The decision takes effect upon its publication.

The Constitutional Court of Armenia ruled that the parliament and the government shall bring the law into line with the decision’s requirements by September 30, 2014.

We would remind you that the law took effect on January 1, 2014. It applies to Armenian citizens born after January 1, 1974. Under the law, employees have to pay 5% of their monthly salaries to a pension fund, and the state shall pay another 5%, but no more than 25,000 drams ($61).