One of the important functions of the Constitutional Court is the fair resolution of disputes related to election results. In this regard, the Constitutional Court has always been a focus of attention and concern for the ruling political team.
Constitutional Court judges will receive additional payments based on their length of service. Minister Srbugi Galyan announced this in the National Assembly on March 25, while presenting the legislative package. “In 2026, the additional payment, which will be paid based on length of service to the chairperson, vice-chairpersons, and seven judges of the Constitutional Court for holding these positions, is expected to cost 46,775,040 drams, which is an additional expense,” the minister noted, adding that the calculation of the additional payment will take into account the full length of service of the Constitutional Court judge at the time the law comes into force.
Why are bonuses for Constitutional Court judges increasing for length of service?
The first thing that comes to mind is the June 7 elections. The active participation of candidates indicates the expected fierce competition. Violations of electoral law cannot be ruled out, and some forces may resort to electoral fraud. In this situation, the role of the Constitutional Court as an authoritative and supreme arbiter is increasing.
Nikol Pashinyan is expected to visit Russia in the coming days and meet with Putin. One of the important topics of discussion at this meeting will likely be the participation of Moscow’s protégés in the June 7 elections. It is highly likely that Pashinyan will comply with Putin’s preconditions, in exchange for which Moscow will not object to the Central Electoral Commission of the Republic of Armenia not registering pro-Russian forces and pursuing and expelling certain Russian agents.
After this, it’s entirely possible that Pashinyan, seeking a constitutional majority, will instruct the Central Election Commission not to register certain candidates, resort to the hybrid threat of a boycott, secretly encourage a boycott campaign, and ultimately secure a majority of the votes cast. In this case, the rejected, deposed, and oppressed forces will presumably appeal to the Constitutional Court and most likely lose. The Constitutional Court will not find their arguments and evidence convincing or compelling, will rule in favor of Pashinyan, and the pro-Russian forces will be left with nothing, but will continue their struggle, living in the hope that things might be different in the next elections.
Let’s imagine that Pashinyan fails to reach an understanding in Moscow, but is rebuffed. In other words, Putin refuses to back down and declares that he will support the three pro-Russian forces and will not assist Pashinyan, as he did in 2018, to become prime minister of the outpost. As a result of this standoff, pro-Russian forces will likely win a majority of the votes on June 7.
This is, of course, a weak hypothesis. But let’s assume Pashinyan loses on June 7. In this case, he could also appeal to the Constitutional Court and demand the annulment of the election results, presenting evidence of pro-Russian electoral bribes, election fraud, and evidence provided by the National Security Service, foreign intelligence, independent observers, mediators, an EU support group, and so on. In this case, the Constitutional Court would likely again rule in Pashinyan’s favor, and the votes collected by pro-Russian forces would be classified as fraudulent. Free, democratic countries, citing the Constitutional Court’s decision, would not recognize the results of the June 7 elections, and Pashinyan would effectively remain in power.
In short, raising bonuses for Constitutional Court judges is a sensible and promising initiative. This demonstration of concern by the government toward Constitutional Court judges is appropriate and timely. It could serve as a financial incentive for Constitutional Court judges to work hard and make fair decisions. And if they show even a modicum of gratitude to those who raise their bonuses, then regardless of the outcome of the June 7 elections, Pashinyan will remain in power.