Today journalists asked Razmik Zohrabyan, the deputy chairman of RPA, at “Henaran” (bearing) club “before admitting a person to the party, do you check whether he is a drug dealer or not, whether he is a drug addict or not”. The spokesman responded, “There are no drug rehabilitation clinics in the party, in order to check it. We wouldn’t ask that man to blow to find out whether he is drunk or not or ask whether he has used drugs. In the meantime, when we find out that a person admitted to our party is a drug addict or an alcoholic, he is expelled. It is done internally, because we don’t admit drug addicts and alcoholics to our party.”
Responding to a question of Aravot.am “do you admit and tolerate people who abuse women, Razmik Zohrabyan said, “RPA has an army of female members, perhaps about 50-60 thousand, certainly women are treated very well. And if you imply other things, let me say that Suren Khachatryan’s case has remained mysterious for us too, there are different, controversial opinions, one says she was abused, another says there was no such thing – at the end of the day, an investigation is in progress, let them decide, I don’t want to enter legal field.” In response to our question “if, however, they find out that the governor kicked her, what will you do”, he said, “If it is revealed, the legal branch will suggest the appropriate means and will enforce them. I am also against abusing women, because I accept the equality between men and women.” We tried to clarify whether they would be satisfied by punishing him only legally, i.e. whether they appreciated his role so highly in the elections, Mr. Zohrabyan said that if the issue was confirmed legally, there would be discussions in the party on that matter. In response to a question “why haven’t you waited for legal solution in case of Gagik Beglaryan”, the spokesman said, “I cannot say that every issue must be solved with a certain pattern, it is not the case, every issue has its own interpretation and logic. I myself treat that issue critically. Really one should be restrained both in the National Assembly and in the relationship with people especially in public places – therefore, it is not like everything is tolerated.”
Hripsime JEBEJYAN
