“No threat to courts”
During a state of emergency, the army can only be used when the police and the National Security forces are no longer capable of maintaining the constitutional order, says the RA Minister of Justice.
"Someone wants to establish a monarchy, another wants to seize power and another wants to eliminate Armenia's sovereignty," said RA Minister of Justice Hrair Tovmasyan as he explained the RA bill "On the Legal Regime for State of Emergency" at the National Assembly today.
Hrair Tovmasyan says he would like to see the deputies that believe this bill will engage the army in political processes. The minister assured everyone that the bill on state of emergency won't have any impact on the independence of courts. "These forces can be used for maintaining constitutional order."
The minister says the army will be used through the directive of internal forces on the days of the state of emergency and emphasizes that he has stated this several times.
Deputy Larisa Alaverdyan reminded that she had gotten acquainted with the bill during the minister's speech.
"I ask you not to introduce a significant bill like this during a speech again," said member of the NA "Heritage" faction Larisa Alaverdyan.
She calls on making an addition to the law, that is, "to not have the regime for the state of emergency refer to courts and the Human Rights Defender institute", and Hrair Tovmasyan promised that there would be no threat to the courts.
The bill was passed by the first reading.
