Exposing the Lies of the Current Head of the RA National Assembly Staff Tigran Galstyan: Arsen Babayan

The former head of the National Assembly Staff, Arsen Babayan, has addressed the statements made by the current head Tigran Galstyan, labeling them as lies. This concerns the decision regarding the need for journalists and guests of the National Assembly to pass their bags through a scanning device not only when entering the Assembly but also when exiting.

In Arsen Babayan's post, it is specifically stated:

“As I promised, I am exposing the lies of the current head of the RA National Assembly Staff, Tigran Galstyan:

First, I urge him not to attempt to establish himself at our expense (of the former leadership of the National Assembly Staff), not to try to advance himself at our expense, and not to project his inexperience in state administration onto us (the ear of George Orwell rings). Thus:

Lie number 1.

In response to a journalist asking, “Who decided that the bags of journalists and National Assembly staff, as well as guests, must go through a scanning device not just when entering the Assembly but also when leaving? Who sees potential ‘thieves’ among all those entering and exiting the parliament?” the current head of the staff replied, “Well, globally you are saying something that in reality the former decision in this regard has not been amended; it simply was not maintained previously in internal regime.”

Revelation:

This regulation was completely changed by the decision NO-01-L dated February 12, 2019, of the President of the RA National Assembly Ararat Mirzoyan. Specifically, during our leadership, the entrance (exit) of individuals was carried out after passing through designated equipment according to established rules, and that rule stipulated that bags were only subject to inspection when entering. With the change made by the new leadership, it has been stipulated that entrance (exit) must be mandatory through appropriate technical devices. This means it is a fact that the inspection of bags when exiting has been made mandatory precisely during Tigran Galstyan’s management, starting from February 12, 2019.

Lie number 2.

The current head of the National Assembly Staff has stated that allegedly, “... We have amended several decisions, for example, concerning electronic devices, which vehicles are allowed into the building, and that deputy ministers could enter without passes, because in the past they had to wait for hours. If previously ministers entered the National Assembly area by car, now that part has also been removed, only specially protected persons – the prosecutor, members of the Security Council, etc.”

Revelation:

This claim that ministers previously entered by car is entirely false. Only the ministers of defense and foreign affairs had had such a privilege, which they still continue to have even after the recent changes. Journalists accredited at the National Assembly will affirm that during our leadership they constantly saw that ministers entered the National Assembly area exclusively on foot, and before entering the building, those same journalists often spoke with the walking ministers.

During our management, there has been no case of a deputy minister waiting for hours for a pass. This is simply because issues regarding the entrance of government representatives were resolved through the government representative at the RA National Assembly and were always quickly addressed, as deputy ministers were given long-term passes to enter the building.

Besides the above, Tigran Galstyan, when recently addressing our management's savings in the media, tried to cast doubt on them. Speaking about our savings, he should have been at least aware that the Toyota he rides, as well as three others, the Mercedes microbus available on the National Assembly's balance sheet, and several other assets were not included in the 2018 budget and were acquired solely from the savings.

Friendly advice: Mr. Galstyan, if you cannot do better than us, look for the reasons solely within yourself. We would only be happy if you managed to further develop what we have created and to complete any unfinished matters. Sometimes consult with the staff, the overwhelming majority of whom are professionals.

And finally, I quote the well-known advice: “Stay in your place, but also work…”