EITHER POLICY OR BENEVOLENCE

The RA laws insist in this alternative, as the benevolencemustn’t pursue political purposes.

Whether the “Prosperous Armenia”, RPA and Democratic Party infringe the RA legislation when one of them dispenses potatoes in RA regions, another supplies with laboratory equipment and the other dispenses TV sets. In answer to our question whether the parties have right to carry out benevolent activities, chief of NA state-juridical commission Rafik Petrosian said: «According to the law about parties the parties aren\’t considered benevolent organizations. These are political organizations. According to the law about benevolence, the benevolent organizations mustn\’t connect their benevolent activities with political issues». Factually, Mr. Petrosian stated that the activities of «Prosperous Armenia», RPA and Democratic Party were illegal. But as Rafik Petrosian himself is a RPA member he tried to justify such activities. «It is asked today whether PA steps can be observed as electoral bribes. I think they can’t, as the pre-electoral campaign hasn\’t launched yet. If that part has carried out such activities why it shouldn\’t it continue when it is useful for the population.”

Anyway the benevolent activities of the parties aren’t the infringement of the law only in pre-electoral period. If PA, RPA and Democratic Party want to carry out charitable activities they must correspond their activities with the law «About Benevolence», and according to the 11th article of that law benevolent organizations are formed by public unions, foundations and other ways determined by law. Party isn\’t one of those ways. According to the same article the «name of benevolent organization must include the «benevolent» word».

And the law «About Parties» forbids the participation of benevolent organizations in political activities. According to the 25th article of that law, the parties aren\’t allowed to get contribution by benevolent organizations and the 18 th forbids making pre-electoral propaganda to benevolent organization.

In short, there is a certain difference between political and benevolent activities.

Aram Sargsian, the parliamentarian of “Justice” faction, DPA leader, in answer to our question whether he agrees that those activities aren’t electoral bribes as they aren’t realized in pre-electoral period, said: “No, I don’t agree, I even declared in the NA that CEC must be led by the articles of the law about parties, according to which the parties have no right to carry out economic activities. Now let’s imagine that a party by its membership fees provide not only its everyday activities but has even accumulated a certain amount of money.

We should mention first of all what party members of this poor country have become so prosperous. And if there are personal resources, they have no connection with the party. Benevolence made by the parties opposes to the laws «About parties» and «About Benevolence».