New details about the scandal in PACE
The fall session of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) ended with a scandal. During the free debates, President of PACE Pedro Agramunt disconnected the microphones of the members of the Armenian delegation to PACE, Naira Karapetyan and Naira Zohrabyan. The dispute arose after the moment when the member of the Azerbaijani delegation to PACE, Rafael Hüseynov, announced that the former head of Armenia’s Helsinki Association, human rights activist, Mikael Danielyan, was killed at the hands of RA authorities for freedom. The Azerbaijani delegate stated that “Serzh Sargsyan’s hands are stained with blood. and the few journalists who are free to speak are eliminated.”
Note that Mikael Danielyan died of a stroke. Member of the Armenian delegation to PACE, Naira Karapetyan, briefly countered Hüseynov in her speech and then talked about the PACE being corrupted, citing the former EPP President Luca Volontè’s question who is accused by the prosecutor’s office in Milan of his political activities in the favor of Azerbaijan in 2012-2014. PACE President Pedro Agramunt interrupted the Armenian delegate reasoning that she has no right to speak about the case under trial. This incident was followed by the speech of the member of the Armenian delegation to PACE, Naira Zohrabyan, during which Mrs. Zohrabyan recommended Rafael Hüseynov to see a psychiatrist. Later, President of PACE Pedro Agramunt yelled saying that they are discrediting people. Mrs. Zohrabyan continued her speech, Agramunt disconnected her microphone, saying that she has no right to speak so, and Mrs. Zohrabyan said that he also has no right to interrupt her because he is also a corrupt lobbyist by Azerbaijan, therefore he does not like to hear the name of another corrupt politician from the tribune of the PACE.
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Aravot talked to Naira Zohrabyan in Strasbourg. We wondered whether Pedro Agramunt’s anti-Armenian manifestations are not of an extremist in nature, he replied, “This is unprecedented for the PACE, even the European Parliament members stated that is was simply an unacceptable behavior by Agramunt to violate the regulations and silence the MP who has the right to speak on any matter during the free debates.”
Mrs. Zohrabyan said that she understands the hysterical situation of Agramunt because, during this session, the Ukrainian delegation also presented him specific accusations for being a Russian lobbyist and protecting the interests of Russia. According to the information of Naira Zohrabyan, the Ukrainian delegation has serious facts about Agramunt’s being a lobbyist and will present them in the near future, “Perhaps, this is Agramunt’s just hysterical behavior during this session, and the fact that he arbitrarily interrupted my and Naira Karapetyan’s speeches.”
Mrs. Zohrabyan informed that immediately after the meeting, head of the Armenian delegation to PACE Hermine Naghdalyan has met with Agramunt and informed that they will pursue legally. Mrs. Zohrabyan detailed on this, “Naturally, I am going to submitting an appeal to the Bureau and the PACE presidency that Pedro Agramunt blatantly violating my rights has not allowed me to finish my speech.”
We asked what was the reaction of the PACE delegates regarding the incident, Mrs. Zohrabyan replied, “At that moment, there were mainly members of Turkish and Azerbaijani delegations, who were silent, Hüseynov was also silent whom I have recommended seeing a psychiatrist for consultation, and for no reason, Pedro Agramunt behaved unworthily instead of Hüseynov. However, Pedro did not interrupt the same Rafael Hüseynov when he was voicing cynical accusations.”
To our question, whether such a confrontation is not to the detriment of the Armenian side, Mrs. Zohrabyan replied, “It would be harmful if the Armenian delegation were to be blamed. But Agramunt consistently provokes a confrontation, and several ethnic delegations have serious problems connected with his biased attitude. Agramunt realizes that serious problems have been piled up over his head, and especially the Ukrainian delegation is consistent to punish Agramunt, and we must defend our rights with all the provisions of the regulations.”
Mrs. Zohrabyan assured that corruption is no longer an obvious phenomenon in PACE, “Silencing me when I was talking about the corrupt mechanisms and phenomena in the CE, when I was pointing to a specific example, this means one thing that Agramunt as famous corrupt official is not interested for this issue to be discussed at the PACE.” Mrs. Zohrabyan concluded by assuring that they will be consistent that Pedro Agramunt is subjected to legal liability enshrined by the regulation.
Tatev HARUTYUNYAN
“Aravot”
