MP from ruling Armenian party defies PM Pashinyan's request to resign
YEREVAN, 2 December. /ARKA/. MP Hovik Aghazaryan from the pro-government Civil Contract party has refused to give up his seat in the National Assembly despite the request of Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan.
In an interview with Armenia's Public Television the other day, Pashinyan said he had called on Aghazaryan to resign his parliamentary mandate.
Aghazaryan later told reporters that he would make a decision on the issue only after listening to the opinion of his childhood friend from Russia.
I have come to certain conclusions by communicating with numerous friends, and with your permission I will make a statement. Dear citizens, the Prime Minister of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan has asked me to resign my mandate as a deputy of the National Assembly for all known reasons. I note with deep regret that I am forced to reject the Prime Minister's request,’ Aghazaryan told 24News.
According to him, two factors pushed him to make the ‘hardest decision’.
Firstly, during the hearings in the National Assembly Mr Kyaramyan (former head of the Investigation Committee - ed.) publicly stated that he was approached in connection with the criminal case against my son's company. A criminal case was initiated in connection with that incident. Secondly, a criminal case has been opened in connection with the export of small cattle, in which I am a witness. Therefore, if I had agreed to the Prime Minister's request, then later, when it will be proved that I am innocent, the public might have an impression that I was offered a deal and I went for it,’ he said.
Aghazaryan noted that if his guilt is proved, he will be deprived of his mandate in any case.
Aghazaryan VS Kyaramyan
In mid-October, during the budget hearings in the parliament, Aghazaryan had a quarrel with the Chairman of the Investigation Committee Argishti Kyaramyan. Aghazarian suspected Kyaramian of pressurising businessmen and abusing the powers of the Investigative Committee, and Kyaramian responded by saying that people had approached him twice 'to ask' for Aghazarian's son (who, according to media reports, is engaged in import and sale of cars - ed.). After that, information about Aghazaryan's imminent relinquishment of his mandate appeared periodically in the press.
As a result of the quarrel between Aghazarian and Kyaramian, the Anti-Corruption Committee initiated a criminal case under the article ‘Interference in the execution of justice or investigation of a case’. Disciplinary proceedings were initiated against Aghazaryan. On 18 November, the chairman of Armenia's Investigative Committee, Argishti Kyaramyan, resigned. -0-
