YEREVAN – The Constitutional Court has agreed to examine a legal challenge filed by opposition lawmakers against recently enacted energy legislation, ending a prolonged period of inaction that had drawn criticism.
The petition, submitted on July 11, contests the constitutionality of laws governing the Energy Networks of Armenia (ENA) and the Public Services Regulatory Commission. Under judicial procedures, the court had a 30-day window to either accept or reject the application, but failed to issue any decision within that timeframe.
Following the expiration of the deadline on August 22, opposition parliamentarian Artsvik Minasyan formally inquired about the status of their application but received no response. The court’s recent acceptance of the case comes after the government-appointed interim director at ENA has already implemented several personnel and financial changes.
Judge Seda Safaryan of the Constitutional Court defended the court’s timeline, stating that “no statutory deadlines have been violated” and that proceedings would follow established legal protocols. She indicated that official documentation would be published on the court’s website.
Opposition legislators have simultaneously sought suspension of the contested laws pending the court’s final ruling, a measure that international arbitration has endorsed but the government has rejected. Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan maintained that “the current legislation remains in effect.”
The legal controversy coincides with Moody’s Investors Service downgrading ENA’s credit rating to “negative,” citing operational uncertainties surrounding the energy provider. While Central Bank Governor Martin Galstyan characterized the rating adjustment as a temporary reaction, the agency projected that Armenia’s economic recovery would stall over the coming 12-18 months following recent governmental changes.
The Constitutional Court’s forthcoming review marks a critical juncture in the ongoing dispute over Armenia’s energy sector governance.
