Armenian lawyers eye parliamentary election run, citing 'legal chaos'

A group of Armenian lawyers and legal professionals plan to run in the June 7 parliamentary elections, citing “legal chaos” in the country that is affecting the judiciary.

Speaking at a press conference on Saturday, lawyer Harutyun Harutyunyan, chairman of the New Era Party, said the decision followed extensive discussions among colleagues in the legal field about their potential role in addressing the country’s challenges.

“After long deliberations on our vision, capabilities and responsibilities, we made a difficult decision to enter the political arena,” he said.

The party currently has around 130 members and is seeking to expand by bringing in more lawyers as well as political analysts, accountants and financial specialists to form what Harutyunyan described as a professional, multidisciplinary team.

He said the party is in talks with other non-parliamentary forces and will announce early next week how it plans to participate in the elections.

Harutyunyan said the group would focus on strengthening human rights protections, safeguarding the rule of law and promoting democratic values. He stressed the importance of legal stability, warning against frequent legislative changes driven by political interests, including those that could enable prosecutions of former officials.

He also highlighted the need to ensure the full independence of the judiciary, including financial autonomy.

Referring to foreign policy, Harutyunyan said Armenia faces mounting challenges amid a shifting global order, calling for leadership guided by national priorities while maintaining cooperation with major international powers.

He added that the party’s economists and financial experts have identified a range of issues in  Armenia’s economic sector.

The New Era Party held an extraordinary congress on March 25, where Harutyun Harutyunyan was elected its chairman.