VIDEO: 'Could you have spoken like that in the presence of Serzh Sargsyan?' Sharp debate between Pashinyan and Marukyan

Today, during a question and answer session with the government in the parliament, MP Edmon Marukyan addressed Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan. A sharp debate took place between the two.

"If you're coming here to deliver a strong speech, and then tell Sisak to ask a question so that I can correct my speech, what’s the point?" Edmon Marukyan asked Nikol Pashinyan during the parliamentary Q&A session. "Let me ask another thing: could it be that your Facebook account has been hacked? Why is the parliamentary session being trivialized like this? In my speech, I questioned you, and you confirmed that you had referred to what I said. There will be no corrections after that. This was a speech of totalitarian nature, indicating that anyone who takes legal action will be considered an anti-state force. This cannot be the case in a state governed by law. There is no respect for dissenting opinion."

Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan responded that he had said what he said at that time from the podium. "I have always thought that we have been on the same field - those forces that obstruct the free expression of the people are considered anti-state. Now I see how you are after the revolution... Let's look at your speeches during Serzh Sargsyan’s time, compare your tone, vocabulary, and style with the present. Enjoy the freedom that the revolution has brought you. But at least acknowledge it. Could you have spoken like this to Serzh Sargsyan? You wouldn't speak like this in front of any prime minister. I understand that maybe it's from that chair (Marukyan is currently sitting in Nikol Pashinyan's chair)."

Pashinyan also ruled out that he had given instructions against the Enlightened Armenia in Vanadzor: "If I'm threatening you, provide evidence, and let’s go catch and punish those who threaten you. You said you were threatened; I instructed the NSS to find the threateners. Now do you think I should threaten you, send someone after you, or burn your car? Are you serious? I don't want to say something rude, but those who send you speak very kindly and with a soft dose of a smile. However, I am not against it; enjoy this, attack us: political attack, of course."

Edmon Marukyan announced that he had been an MP for 7 years, and during that time, Serzh Sargsyan had only entered the hall once. "I had the opportunity to deliver two speeches, and both times I looked into his eyes and said what I thought. Before that, I did the same regarding Karen Karapetyan, Hovik Abrahamyan, and Tigran Sargsyan. I am surprised if the authorities have difficulty remembering. Where were we startled? Were we startled during the human rights discussions? Regarding the audit in Vanadzor, find out who is responsible. As for the tone, I responded with the tone you used."

For more details, watch the video on Armlur.am.