Aram Manukyan: Do not teach us lessons

During its sitting on Monday, the National Assembly continued to discuss the 2013 report of the Ombudsman’s Office.  The co-rapporteur was Elinar Vardanyan, Chair of the NA Standing Committee on the Protection of Human Rights and Public Affairs. Opposition lawmakers Aram Manukyan and Nikol  Pashinyan addressed her questions about jailed activist Shant Harutyunyan and political prisoners in the country. After enumerating the political prisoners in Armenia, Mr Pashinyan proposed to hold parliamentary hearing on the theme “Political prisoners in Armenia.” “You can choose the title yourself for the public to be able to understand which option is grounded and weighty. Our citizens have the right to know why we have political prisoners in the country and why they are not at large. Some people in our country who have committed murder are not in prison today, moreover, they are promoted to high offices,” he said. Elinar Vardanyan promised to organize hearing on the issue. “The problem is that in our country people who are persecuted for political views are not recognized as political prisoners in courts. They are simply charged with a crime under certain articles. Therefore, I believe that Parliament is the place where different discussions should be held on the matter.” Pashinyan thanked Vardanyan for the support. Vice-Speaker of the National Assembly Hermine Naghdalyan wecomed Vardanyan’s speech saying, “The same trick is frequently used by our opposition colleagues. The interesting is that you did not have a similar approach to the same issue and doubted whether it was a legal or political matter. Undoubtedly, judges are legal persons, rather than political figures.” “I would like our judges to be guided by law, but the reality is different,” said Elinar Vardanyan. Speaking about the opposition’s proposal to discuss the issues ‘in order of priority,’ head of the Republican parliamentary group Vahram Baghdasaryan said in fact the opposition is ‘staging a show.’  In reply, Aram Manukyan, Secretray of the Armenian National Congress (HAK) faction asked his Republican colleague not to teach the opposition lessons. His words angered Republican Vardan Ayvazyan who made remarks from his seat. “We all like to learn, but we do not like others to teach us,” said Vice-Speaker Eduard Sahrmazanov.