Arman Babajanyan's Chemistry Demands a New Political Prisoner in the Face of Serge Sargsyan: Armen Ashtoyan

Republican Party Vice President Armen Ashtoyan writes: "Yesterday, still an MP from the 'Enlightened Armenia' (LHK) faction, Arman Babajanyan presented an extensive text criticizing Nikol Pashinyan for not arresting Serge Sargsyan in the March 1 case. Undoubtedly, there is much to criticize about Pashinyan, including turning the March 1 case into a tool of political vendetta and unlawfully holding Robert Kocharyan in custody.

Arman Babajanyan, who considers himself an advocate of democratic values, demands not a just, transparent, and constitutional judicial process but rather a new political prisoner in the form of Serge Sargsyan.

What does Babajanyan, who is not particularly fond of Nikol, want from us? During the regime change, he championed a 'third way,' later became an MP with LHK, and now has initiated separate political maneuvers. In reality, Babajanyan's post targets not Sargsyan but rather Pashinyan. It is clear that his recent activities are aimed at appearing 'more velvet than the velvet' itself. An individual who did not contribute to the regime change is trying to gather points on Pashinyan's failures alongside various other groups while positioning himself from a more radical stance, evidently bypassing the leadership of 'Enlightened Armenia.'

The delicate art of first stinging and then casting away those who heat him up constitutes Armen's political credo, of which I can also testify. Nevertheless, this MP's political games would not interest us if he were not trying to enhance his political stature at the expense of the Republican Party and Serge Sargsyan.

I have stated on several occasions that I am in favor of political lustration, which is more than necessary to free political life from 'tourists.' Therefore, 'Enlightened Armenia' should either bear shared responsibility for its MP's activities, or admit that Babajanyan is engaged in separate games."