Vladimir Vardanyan, a former member of the ruling Civil Contract party, was elected president of Armenia’s Constitutional Court on Friday. The vote marked the second round of the election, following a 14 October session where neither candidate secured the required majority in either round of the secret ballot. Vardanyan and Vice-President Edgar Shatiryan were the only candidates for the position. Under the constitution, the court elects its president from among its judges for a six-year term. The previous president, Arman Dilanyan, completed his term on 12 October but will continue to serve as a judge. All current judges were appointed during Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s rule, raising questions about the judiciary’s independence. Vardanyan joined the court as a judge in March 2026 after terminating his membership in Civil Contract. He had chaired parliament’s Committee on State and Legal Affairs since 2019 and served as the court’s head of staff from April 2018 until his parliamentary election.
Shatiryan announced his resignation from the vice-presidency immediately after the results, stating it was "impossible to continue serving in the position," though he will remain a judge. Critics argue that Vardanyan’s political history compromises the court’s impartiality. Fourteen organisations issued a joint statement before his March appointment, calling on parliament "to refrain from electing" him because his seven years of active politics violate constitutional prohibitions on party affiliation for judges. Artur Sakunts of the Helsinki Citizens’ Assembly Vanadzor Office asked on Facebook: "So how can we now turn to the Constitutional Court with any conviction or confidence?" Levon Barseghyan, chair of the Journalists’ Club Asparez board, described the election as "yet another disgrace." Observers draw parallels to Hrayr Tovmasyan, a former Republican Party member elected in 2018, an appointment then-opposition MP Pashinyan criticized at the time. Media outlets had previously speculated that authorities considered Vardanyan for the presidency even before his judicial appointment. The selection process highlights persistent tensions between the executive branch and the judiciary. Civil society groups maintain that terminating party membership does not erase long-term political involvement. The court now operates under a new leadership structure with Vardanyan at the helm. His background remains a focal point for legal scholars and opposition figures alike. The transition leaves the institution facing significant scrutiny over its future direction and perceived neutrality.
