YEREVAN, Armenia — In May, the first-ever moot-court competition on constitutional justice was organized in Armenia by the Council of Europe Office in Yerevan, in partnership with the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia, and the Armenian International Law Association. The competition’s primary aim is to enhance students’ knowledge and practical skills in the field of constitutional law. This year’s focus was especially on the balance between freedom of expression and the protection of the right to life, honor, and reputation.
Almost ten teams across several universities were participating including the American University of Armenia (AUA) Master of Arts in Human Rights and Social Justice (MAHRSJ) program and the Bachelor of Arts in Politics and Governance students. The moot-court was composed of two stages; written and oral rounds. Written rounds took place in Tsaghkadzor from May 22 to 24, and oral rounds took place at the Constitutional Court of the Republic of Armenia from May 29 to 30.
First-year students of the MAHRSJ program, Lusine Vardanyan and Sofya Tumanyan advanced to the final round of the competition, securing second place. In addition to team success, they were awarded the Best Written Memorandum for Applicant, and Lusine Vardanyan received the Best Speaker Award.
“Within a moot court environment, where aiming to achieve the highest possible results and representing both ourselves and our university at the highest standard are essential, we also highly value the opportunity to communicate with students from other universities and their respective teams. As current and future colleagues in the legal field, such events contribute to the formation of a more supportive, professional, and knowledge-driven legal community,” remarked Lusine and Sofya.
The team’s achievement was made possible through the dedicated guidance of their coach, Assistant Professor Emil Babayan, whose mentorship was essential to their preparation and overall performance. Valuable support was also provided by Adjunct Lecturer Sergey Ghazinyan, whose guidance contributed significantly to the team’s development. Additionally, MAHRSJ Interim Program Chair Adelaida Baghdasaryan’s continuous encouragement and guidance were instrumental throughout the competition.
“This was an unforgettable experience and a significant contribution to our development as future professionals. As students of Human Rights and Social Justice, we place great importance on participating in such moot court competitions. This experience not only provided us with new knowledge but also gave us the opportunity to interact with legal professionals who shared their practical insights and expertise,” said the finalists.
Founded in 1991, the American University of Armenia (AUA) is a private, independent university located in Yerevan, Armenia, affiliated with the University of California, and accredited by the WASC Senior College and University Commission (WSCUC) in the United States. AUA provides local and international students with Western-style education through top-quality undergraduate and graduate degree and certificate programs, promotes research and innovation, encourages civic engagement and community service, and fosters democratic values.
