Armenian opposition alliance seeks judge's recusal in election case

The opposition Hayastan (Armenia) alliance will petition the Constitutional Court to remove judge Seda Safaryan from deliberations on challenges to the June 7 parliamentary election results, citing potential conflicts of interest.

Safaryan was a candidate in the 2021 elections on the Babajanyan–Shirinyan bloc list, alongside politician Arman Babajanyan, who has also filed a petition contesting the recent vote.

Speaking to Panorama.am on Monday, attorney Hovhannes Khudoyan argued that her prior political affiliation undermines judicial impartiality.

The Constitutional Court has already excused judges Artak Zeynalyan and Vladimir Vardanyan from the proceedings, ruling that their participation was impossible due to perceived bias toward parties involved in the dispute.

Multiple opposition groups, including the Strong Armenia alliance, Prosperous Armenia Party, Hayastan bloc, Wings of Unity party, Democracy, Law and Discipline Party, Defenders of the Republic’s Democracy party and New Force Reformists Party, have submitted petitions seeking to annul the election results and call for a revote. The court consolidated the cases and scheduled a hearing for June 26 at 11 a.m., with judge Edgar Shatiryan serving as rapporteur.