Recently, the police put a draft into circulation, which was recommending imposing a penalty for the implementer of non-traditional sexual relations propaganda. Then, the Police Chief Vladimir Gasparyan, in consideration of the shortcomings and deficiencies revealed during the debate of the draft law, indicating that the problem is not the priorities of the police, sent the draft law back.
Avetik Ishkhanyan, Chairman at Helsinki Committee of Armenia, in the interview with Aravot.am, referring to the draft, said that, first, let’s talk about what the draft is for. “It was purely from the sphere of assumptions. It can be assumed that once again the authorities tried to beat their chest to demonstrate themselves national and patriotic, because they are constantly criticized from different directions, and they do not have any form of protection, therefore they attempted to show how patriotic they are, which is expressed in a variety of forms, including demanding lands from Turkey.”
As interpreted by Ishkanyan, it is likely for the draft to be linked to a concern to show how they are thinking about the nations, or, “Because similar draft was adopted in Russia, this is the way to ape Russia as if we are on the side of Russians on this issue. If you think so, then this is a very simplistic thinking. But this can be a very dangerous draft. As to why it was withdrawn from the circulation, I think, there were smart people who have said that now it does not worth to create regular noise, and moreover, in the West, who had promised to donate billions of dollars in case the Association Agreement, perhaps, will get angry. In my opinion, there has been such a pragmatic approach.”
To our questions whether we need such a draft on our way to Europe, Ishkhanyan replied,- “What do you mean we are going to Europe, are our tickets bought, so that we are going to Europe. I do not accept going to Europe. Does the European Association Agreement mean we are going to Europe? Or, is it after the signing of the Association Agreement the election in Armenia would not be rigged, or there would be no oligarchs, or liskas would not shoot? … I am asking. We were going to sign the Association Agreement in order to receive billions. And the adoption of such a draft may block the money coming.”
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Eva HAKOBYAN
