Dear compatriots,
I have attentively followed the activities of the Government during the 100 days and as the Head of the parliament I expected to see from my colleague, Prime Minster of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan a programme aimed at ensuring the country’s security, economic development as well as the improvement of the population’s welfare and of course the further strengthening of democracy. 100 days might be a little time for hearing about the Prime Minister’s comprehensive vision over the mentioned issues and the constructive ways to address them.
Definitely, I find that it is important to fight against corruption.
Definitely, it is necessary to fight against monopolies.
I am convinced that we should always listen to the people’s voice. The people must be maximally informed and involved in the processes of making the all-important decisions, since we know that in the Republic of Armenia power belongs to the people. However, in this context we should solely be guided by the Constitution and the laws and act in full compliance with the international commitments assumed by the Republic of Armenia.
In this regard, I record with regret that I am deeply concerned by the situation in the country.
The regular social-political life of the country, the legal – constitutional relations of the state power bodies and the public solidarity are endangered. I see dangerous tendencies of dividing the society into mutually exclusive groups of supporters of revolution and counterrevolution, as well as the deepening of intolerance.
These concerns are more deepened by the following formulation in the Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s remark. I quote it: “So, I advise everyone to think before you speak. You say we restrict the freedom of speech. Firstly, you should learn to think before you speak and only then think about the right to free speech.”
I should confess that it was unexpected to hear such formulations from the Prime Minister Pashinyan by the simple reason that it is directly an encroachment on pluralism.
In parallel with this, “telling off” the judges and threatening the dissidents by the National Security Service, is not only pressure against the judicial power, but also against anyone in the country who holds opposite opinion.
There were dangerous messages in Prime Minister Pashinyan’s speech both to the Constitutional Order of the Republic of Armenia and the fundaments of statehood, which directly contradict the international commitments assumed by the Republic of Armenia aiming at building democratic state.
Particularly, the manner of addressing the judges by the Head of the executive body in words like ”sober up” is merely a threat to the independence of the judicial power, interference to all ongoing and upcoming judicial proceedings and court decisions. Under the thesis of “transitional justice” an anti-legal hint of giving the retroactive effect to the laws was presented.
At the same time the possibility of carrying out constitutional amendments in the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia and the threat of ensuring the desirable outcome in any way is an obvious pressure and compulsion towards the legislative power by the Head of the executive body.
This manner is incomprehensible for me taking into account the fact that the opportunities for such discussions and making decisions at the parliament were not exhausted.
Thus, taking into consideration the aforementioned, I plan meetings with the President of the Republic of Armenia, Prime Minister, Human Rights Defender, the representatives of the Higher Judicial Council and the international diplomatic missions to discuss the existing situation.
Remaining true to its constitutional mission, I assure you that the National Assembly will continue to exercise the powers vested in by law.