Lawyer Aram Vardevanyan has publicly addressed the Council of the Legal Academy via Facebook, proposing a formal discussion on the disciplinary liability and potential removal of Armine Meliksetyan, who is listed as an attendee at the academy.
Archbishop Mikael Ajapahyan, head of the Shirak Diocese, was sentenced to two years in prison. The verdict was delivered by Judge Armine Meliksetyan of the Court of First Instance.
“An individual who violates and devalues criminal law and criminal procedure law cannot be a member of the legal profession. Such a person cannot aspire to join the legal community. I believe the time has come to address this issue comprehensively and provide a proper evaluation of such actions.
The person who sentenced Archbishop Mikael to two years in prison should be assessed, according to the Legal Academy’s charter, on two counts: 1) whether she demonstrated proper ethical conduct, and 2) whether she upheld the good reputation of the Legal Academy. If the answer to both is negative, and I believe that is obviously the case, I request that the Council discuss the disciplinary responsibility and removal of Legal Academy attendee Armine Meliksetyan. I expect the Council to consider this public appeal and take appropriate action,” wrote Vardevanyan.
Lawyer Ara Zohrabyan also noted that Judge Meliksetyan rushed the ruling so much that she cited the wrong article—Article 442(2) of Armenia’s Criminal Code, which refers to “illegal participation of an official in entrepreneurial activity.” However, the archbishop was charged under Article 422, “public calls for the usurpation of power.”
