Styopa Safaryan: I have nothing to say to someone who speaks in a Shmayis-like language
The Ethics Committee of the Armenian National Assembly has accepted a complaint filed by political analyst Styopa Safaryan against lawmaker Tigran Urikhanyan who insulted Safaryan from the parliamentary rostrum. Talking to A1+ Company, Mr. Safaryan said though he personally handed all facts to the Ethics Committee, he refused to participate in the sitting. He says each person should be responsible for his words. “I can feel offended by someone whose opinion is important for me but in this case I applied to the Ethics Committee because I want people to understand that in similar situations they should either apologize or receive a reprimand by the Ethics Committee for insulting someone in their public speech from the NA rostrum. Do not think that I cannot err or give in to emotions but I am a person who can immediately pull himself together and correct the situation. If Urikhanyan does not find the strength [in him] to make a public apology, let the Ethics Committee give an assessment to his act,” he said. When asked whether he would be satisfied with the decision of the Ethics Committee and whether he would not go to court, Mr. Safaryan said, “We have presented the details of the dispute to the court but I have neither time nor resources to spend on it. I consider him [Urikhanyan] neither a competitor nor an obstacle to my political activities. Do not think that the court will deprive him of his immunity or prosecute him for defamation. I think the opinion of the Ethics Committee is the greatest punishment for a politician.” Styopa Safaryan says he has nothing to say to the lawmaker. “I have repeatedly said I do not intend to answer someone who speaks in a Shmayis-like language. I do not want to ensure my PR through him,” he said in conclusion.
