We Did Not Say That Tsarukyan Is Not a Major Entrepreneur: Lilit Makunts

The Special Investigative Service had rejected the application of the "Citizen's Decision" party, which demanded depriving Tsarukyan of his mandate due to his involvement in entrepreneurial activities. This was stated today, on May 17, during a conversation with journalists in the National Assembly by Lilit Makunts, the leader of the "My Step" faction, regarding the issue of depriving the leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), Gagik Tsarukyan, of his mandate and the decision made by the Special Investigative Service in this context.

She assured that there could be no interference from the legislative or executive bodies with the judicial and law enforcement agencies.

She added that there had been no discussions in the faction regarding the activities of law enforcement agencies.

“It is wrong to examine the issue in the form or status of a temporary commission, and our priority is to have a permanent ethics commission as soon as possible so that such issues do not result in any political decisions, but rather the ethics commission immediately examines all similar matters—whether related to BHK, the "Enlightened Armenia" party, or the "My Step" faction,” said Lilit Makunts.

In response to the question of whether the topic is closed and whether Tsarukyan will not be reminded in the National Assembly that he is a businessman or an oligarch, Makunts replied, “We have elaborated enough on this topic, both in response from the government and the Prime Minister, as well as from the legislative body. We have stated that there is no pressure on the minority. No one has expressed a negative opinion regarding the fact that Gagik Tsarukyan is a major entrepreneur. We have discussed oligarchy and whether they can have leverage over the government. In this regard, no. The rest we consider in the legal and legislative field.”