Judge Vahe Misakyan, who acquitted former Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan earlier this year, plans to challenge his dismissal in the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), Pastinfo reported.

The judge of Yerevan’s Criminal Court was dismissed for a major disciplinary violation in early October.

Misakyan faced disciplinary proceedings for his handling of a trial that involved opposition politician Vazgen Manukyan, who was charged with calling for seizure of power and violent overthrow of the constitutional order in 2021. He was convicted and fined 400,000 drams in June 2024.

The Ministry of Justice accused the judge of artificially dragged out Manukyan’s trial.

“The judge has recently received the decision and is currently working on an appeal to be submitted to the ECHR,” Pastinfo said.