Whose Mouth Are We Closing, Whose Car Are We Burning? Prime Minister

If we were burning cars, at least by now we would have known whose car we are burning. This was stated today by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan during a Q&A session in the National Assembly.

“I’ll tell you more, if we were burning cars, they wouldn't talk to us that way because there have been times when there were car burners, people who beat up in the stairwells, and even those who shot and killed. And those same people never spoke to those individuals in that tone because they felt that really, maybe the next car would be burned, or there would be beatings in the entrance, and in some cases, more convincing methods,” he said.

Nikol Pashinyan mentioned that when he was speaking, some of today's opposition colleagues were simply flinching while sitting in the NA hall. “I am now happy that they have rediscovered or found their confidence,” said Pashinyan.

He emphasized that he has stated that anyone who obstructs the expression of the people's free will will be considered an anti-state force. “There is a nuance—I have spoken about legal obstacles; what I implied is that if the decision is contested in the Constitutional Court, we will evaluate it that way. Why? Because I say, let’s go and ask the people and ensure the people’s freedom of expression, if there is a force that says, 'No, I don't want to ask the people, I must ask the CC,' a certain conclusion can be drawn from this situation. And when I say that we must guarantee the freedom of the people's expression, I am saying that let’s take those same arguments to the people and let them believe you and vote,” said the Prime Minister.

According to Nikol Pashinyan, there has never been a vote in Armenia under conditions where there are five opposition television companies on air. “In the history of Armenia, there has never been a vote under conditions when Armenia shares eighth place in the world in terms of press freedom with France. What are they talking about? Whose mouth are we closing, whose car are we burning... and... thank you,” Pashinyan said in the National Assembly.