VIDEO: I Am Not Afraid of Lying on the Asphalt; The Theft Happened During the HHSh Era – Gukasyan

During a press briefing with journalists at the National Assembly, Prosperous Armenia Party MP Vardan Gukasyan stated that he sees attempts by the Prime Minister to exert pressure on the opinions of parliament members.

“I regret that something I said has provoked such anger from our esteemed Prime Minister, but I have spoken in the interest of the nation and I haven’t said anything wrong. Each MP has the right to express their opinion, yet I feel that there is pressure on expressing opinions, especially from the head of state,” Vardan Gukasyan remarked, referring to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's statement during a Q&A session in the National Assembly. Pashinyan had indicated that lawmakers and political figures opposed to a draft bill holding criminal authorities accountable would “be laid on the asphalt, literally.”

In response, Gukasyan said he is not afraid of being laid on the asphalt or being hit against the walls. “I am not the type of person who fears such things; I fear only one thing—the dreadful judgment. Later, David the Prophet says, 'Do not place your hope in your position, wealth, or parties, for I will make the king into dust, the shepherd into a king; I will raise, I will lower, I will give life, I will cause to die,’” Gukasyan noted.

When asked about the Prime Minister implying that Gukasyan had once stolen from Gyumri, the MP responded that there has not been a single institution in Armenia that operates as clean and transparently as he does. “Not only in Armenia but throughout the Soviet Union, no city halls, ministries, or regional administrations have worked as clean and transparently as we did. The proof is that it is not the Prime Minister who has been elected now without bribes and fraud; it was I who was elected back then without deceit and without bribery. The HHSh, my political support and big brother, took over the entire state apparatus in 1996 when we won, placed those boxes to the right, and switched to another candidate. Whatever was done then was done by his party, the theft occurred during the HHSh era, by the senior leaders of the HHSh. So much money came to Armenia that not only Gyumri but all of Armenia could have been built,” Gukasyan stated, adding that the entire city was looted, and for 31 years, the people of Gyumri have remained in shanties, for which Nikol Pashinyan's team at that time is responsible.

Video by 24news.am.