During Session They Suggested ‘Exile’ but the Correct Term is ‘Isolated’: Hrachya Hakobyan

“I have a normal attitude towards criticism, I accept the accusations against me, and the same claim is being made again, but in different wording,” said Hrachya Hakobyan, a member of the National Assembly from the ‘My Step’ faction, in a conversation with reporters regarding his statement made the day before that smoking individuals should become 'exiles' in our society.

“Initially, I had chosen a different word—'isgoy,' which was also not quite accurate. There is no direct substitute in Armenian; I was suggested from the hall and continued my thought with the word 'exile',” he explained, adding that it would have been more appropriate to use the term 'isolated,' which did not come to his mind at the time of his speech.

“What I meant was directed more towards being more isolated. Smokers should be somewhat isolated; they should not promote smoking in public places, sitting comfortably in an armchair, smoking, and then telling children that smoking is bad. A smoker should primarily be isolated in their own home, going out to the balcony to smoke rather than sitting on their couch watching a movie while smoking,” the MP detailed his thoughts.

When asked whether he himself smokes, Hrachya Hakobyan replied: “I do smoke occasionally—very little, in the evening.”