Minister: new constitution draft lacks preamble

PanARMENIAN.Net - The draft text of Armenia’s new Constitution currently does not include a preamble, Justice Minister Srbuhi Galyan said.

She was responding to journalists’ questions about whether the new Constitution would contain a reference to the Declaration of Independence, Sputnik Armenia reported.

“We have not finalized it yet. Why must the working discussions necessarily have a complete text? There should be no impression that we are avoiding presenting what has been summarized within the preamble so far. The Constitution’s text will be public in draft form, including the preamble,” Galyan said.

She added that discussions are currently ongoing within the Civil Contract party leadership and parliamentary faction.

According to the minister, the draft Constitution may be published before the elections, Radar Armenia reported.

“We will publish the text, and then it will become clear which provisions will remain and which will no longer be included. We are working intensively so the publication happens as soon as possible. I believe the text will be published before the elections,” she said.

Speaking about the Declaration of Independence, Galyan stressed that it is a historical document.

“It is a document oriented not toward the past but toward the future. Although it is a historical document and there is a legal debate about whether it has normative force, it contains several fundamental principles that form the basis of the Constitution. Guided by those principles, the Constitution must look to the future and emphasize the continuity of the state and the mission of passing on a peaceful and secure country to future generations,” she said.

Galyan also noted that the published text will not be the final version, but a draft that could be revised based on proposals from citizens and experts.

She emphasized that the final decision on adopting the Constitution will be made by the people.

In late March 2025, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said the Armenian authorities plan to hold a referendum on adopting a new Constitution in 2027. He also noted that his team had discussed the possibility of holding the referendum simultaneously with the 2026 parliamentary elections.

Later, he said the new Constitution should not include a reference to the Declaration of Independence.

Azerbaijan has insisted that Armenia amend its Constitution, arguing that it contains references calling for the unification of Nagorno-Karabakh with Armenia.