The subject of “Aravot” online “Face to face” talk show is discussed by Manvel Badeyan, RPA faction member, also MP of the National Assembly, and Karapet Rubinyan, a PANM Board member.
Aram Abrahamyan – Last week’s acts of violence, first, against freedom fighters, and then against NA MP Aram Manukyan, were convicted by all factions of the National Assembly, under different toning. Could the Parliament do something else?
Manvel Badeyan – No, the National Assembly did what was within its power; it passed a statement by majority vote, unfortunately, some factions did not join the NA statement. But all political forces, taken separately, also criticized the acts of violence. The Parliament could not do more, because the rest was within the jurisdiction of other agencies, the law enforcement agencies should be involved in the investigation of each case, by detecting the culprits and punishing them.
A.A. – Mr. Rubinyan, you perhaps have followed the statements, which was made separately by RPA and later together with ARF, as well as the parliamentary trio or quartet. Do you have reservations on these statements?
Read also
Karapet Rubinyan – Naturally. I think, however, the National Assembly had to respond more dramatic to the situation. Because apart from the fact that a chain of violence was created, maybe even a link in this chain, two links were accidental, anyway, the chain showed that the atmosphere in the country is not normal. Plus, the public official, a senior police officer created a new atmosphere with his statements, direct threats were voiced, and I think that the National Assembly was to give an adequate assessment to the words of this official. This official was making anti-state statements. It is clear that the National Assembly cannot dismiss a person from employment, but it could urge relevant authorities to call this person to order. They did it by giving a reprimand, I think it was a very endearing way of doing it.
A. A.– We are talking about Levon Yeranosyan, he is a deputy police chief, in the beginning, he said, those who say “bad” to Serzh Sargsyan, I will cut off their ears. He got a reprimand by the police chief. Then, he gave another interview and said, those who are doing such things, I will smash their heads. Is it NA’s task to give an assessment to deputy police chief, or not?
M. B. – No, NA’s task is not giving an assessment to this-or-that person occupying not very high political position, because deputy police chief is merely an average official. The National Assembly may give an assessment, for example, to this-or-that structure in general, and when we announce that the statement that you passed says that the law enforcement are not on their height. Any text can always be manipulated, when it comes to the statement, any political force would always be willing to see what it needs. It was a balanced text, in my opinion, and anyway, when we compare the two texts, our ARF and RPA common text, and on the other hand, the PAP text, let the people judge, in my opinion, our text was much more beneficial, much more literate, much more inclusive and even much more acute.
A. A. – In other words, Levon Yeranosyan is not the official, with whom the National Assembly should be engaged.
K. R. – Look, it was said that he is an average official. He is the commander of interior troops; internal troops are used by the current regime as a threat during the peaceful demonstrations and during popular protests, we have seen it. True, he was not the commander on March 1. Now, he is just voicing threats, which he has no jurisdiction for. Plus, they do it after he himself had organized the violence, I do not know to call it a preservation, or implemented by his brotherhood.
Complete discussion below:
Prepared by ARAM ABRAHAMYAN
