Kocharyan’s case usual case for me, CC chairman Hrayr Tovmasyan

The circumstance that the whole political life may be built over one criminal case is not good for any country, chairman of the Constitutional Court of Armenia Hrayr Tovmasyan said in an interview to Armnews TV channel, referring to the trial of Armenia’s second president Robert Kocharyan.

“It is preferable for political phenomena to elaborate over state elections or equivalent events. Nevertheless, it is not a standard case for the CC as well but not because it is of wide public interest but because the disputed norm essentially differs from the other articles. Secondly, which is much more important we had never had practice of application of this norm. For me, I convince you, it is a common case irrespective of political and legal interests. It is a usual case for me and other CC judges,” Tovmasyan convinced, adding that it is inadmissible for the CC to make a mistake in this case.

He said the ECHR and the Venice Commission do not give final verdicts and even do not decide whether mentioned article corresponds to European convention or not.

“But their experience, their standards that exist in European countries will help us, we will take them into consideration while making decision,” the CC chairman said.