Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has once again spoken about the corruption prevailing in the country’s judicial system. The occasion for such criticism was the question raised at the October 1 briefing as to whether the authorities hold political opponents accountable, while those who make deals are free.
Countering that observation, Pashinyan stressed that numerous political opponents are free, whereas by the journalist’s logic all opponents, or at least most of them, should be in prison.
“Did you see what happened in Gagik Khachatryan’s case? Who will answer? The fact that he is in this condition (meaning being free) and there is no court verdict, is the result of corruption. It is not excluded that it may be systemic. To what level does it reach? All those who are still free are the result of corruption. With their mafia connections they settle their issues,” Pashinyan said, reaffirming his promise to keep everyone behind bars. According to him, this systemic corruption has still not been rooted out, since under the legislation the judicial system is independent, while those hiding behind it (obviously the judges) protect not the state, but the corruption cliques.
“At some moment the people’s cup of patience will fill, and even the government will probably be unable to hold the situation. How long can one mock? One year, eight years? The criminal must sit in prison, for me there is no other principle. The judicial system must decide who is a criminal and who is not,” the prime minister said.
