Several provisions of the election program of the Civil Contract party contradict both the Constitution of the Republic of Armenia and the country’s international legal obligations, human rights defender Hovhannes Ishkhanyan has stated.
The right of return as a fundamental principle of international law
According to Ishkhanyan, the ruling party’s approaches regarding the return of Armenians from Artsakh do not align with principles established under international law. He recalled that Armenia is a party to international conventions on refugee rights, which guarantee displaced persons the right to return to their places of residence and to restore their property rights.
He emphasized that this right is fundamental and cannot be limited by political expediency. Therefore, any approach that effectively abandons the protection of this right may be considered a violation of international obligations.
Religious institutions and constitutional regulations
Ishkhanyan also addressed provisions related to the Armenian Apostolic Church, particularly those referring to its “reform.” In his view, such approaches may raise legal concerns, given that the Church’s status is defined by the Constitution and specific laws, which prohibit executive interference in its internal affairs.
He stressed that the autonomy of religious organizations and the regulation of state-church relations are subject to clear constitutional limitations, and any political initiative must remain within these boundaries to avoid legal ambiguity.
Constitutionality as a prerequisite for electoral participation
The human rights defender argues that if a political party’s program contains provisions that contradict the Constitution or international law, this raises questions about the legality of its participation in elections.
He maintains that any political force seeking power must operate within the principles of constitutionality and the rule of law. Violations of these principles, he says, may justify questioning whether such a party should be allowed to register for elections.
The importance of legal safeguards and electoral integrity
Ishkhanyan also highlighted the importance of the quality of electoral processes, noting that free and fair elections require not only legal compliance but also an environment of trust.
According to him, legal violations and public pressure observed today affect the perception of elections, reducing public trust in their outcomes and fostering an atmosphere of fear.
In this context, he concluded, the legitimacy of elections is already being called into question.