I have nothing to say about concrete case: justice minister on complaints of March 1 victims

It is not right to tie the examination of a concrete case with the whole process of judicial-legal reforms, Armenia’s minister of justice Rustam Badasyan told the reporters today, referring to the statement of successors of March 1 victims and their representatives.

The representatives stated about quitting their participation in the court hearings, complaining of their pace and permanent protraction and describing them as “contentless farce.”

The minister said he cannot give any comment on March 1 case. As to whether he sees any issue, the minister said he has not got familiarized with the statement fully, but stressed that in separate cases he sees tendencies to protract the court hearings.

“I see certain phenomena of avoiding the justice – like the judge does not want to examine the case, or announces recusal without any grounds, etc. All these issues have gathered for years,” Badasyan said.

To the comment that March 1 victims’ representatives complain of protraction, the minister said, “I have nothing to say about a concrete case. I am minister of justice who works out policy in justice sector.”