The four-day session of Armenia’s National Assembly began on February 23, however the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) has decided to boycott parliamentary sessions. The secretary of PAP, Naira Zohrabyan made the announcement this morning and said that the members of the party’s faction will leave the building “taking into consideration the unprecedented political situation in Armenia.” Zohrabyan said that the party will release a statement in the next few days clarifying its future steps.
The leader of the Armenian National Congress faction in parliament, Levon Zurabyan told the Chairperson of the National Assembly Galust Sahakyan that President Serzh Sargsyan’s statement addressed to the leader of PAP, Gagik Tsarukyan that triggered a firestorm of controversy, should have been placed on the parliament’s agenda taking into consideration that Sargsyan’s letter was a direct threat not only against Tsarukyan but the Constitution. In that statement, Sargsyan said he would remove Tsarukyan from the National Security Council, he would deprive him of his parliamentary mandate, and he would have the appropriate law enforcement bodies in the country launch an investigation into “many unverified reports of criminal cases” and “unverified accounts about billions of drams in unpaid taxes.” Zurabyan underscored that Sargsyan had placed himself above the country’s Constitution and by doing so, had rendered it meaningless.
Edward Sharmazanov, the Deputy Chair of the National Assembly replied that the Prosperous Armenia Party had a faction in parliament and if they deemed it necessary, they could protect GagikTsarukyan interests.
On February 12, during a session of the Executive Council of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, President Serzh Sargsyan severely criticized leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party Gagik Tsarukyan, often times leveling personal insults against the leader. Sargsyan initiated several actions, including removing Tsarukyan from the National Security Council and potentially depriving him of his parliamentary seat in order to launch an investigation about billions of drams in unpaid taxes. On February 13, Gagik Tsarukyan responded to Sargsyan’s challenge with his own statement. After threats to hold a massive rally to unseat Sargsyan, Gagik Tsarukyan backed down and decided to negotiate with the president to reach a compromise.
