Opposition Boycotts Parliamentary Agenda, Demands Discussion on Only Pashinyan's Resignation

The 5th session of the 7th convocation of the National Assembly has commenced. The agenda includes two issues: a draft budget for 2021 and a proposal to ratify an addendum to the loan agreement regarding the ‘Caucasus Electric Transmission Network - Armenia-Georgia Transmission Line/Substations’, which includes extending deadlines and a modified repayment schedule.

The parliament observed a minute of silence in memory of soldiers who lost their lives for Artsakh.

Before proceeding to agenda items, Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the “Enlightened Armenia” faction, raised the issue of convening an extraordinary session to discuss the trilateral statement. Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly Lena Nazaryan reminded that there had already been a council meeting where quorum was not met; therefore, according to her, the absent members did not deem it necessary to discuss that issue.

“Now that you are here, can we discuss it?” Marukyan asked.

“It was not clear from your proposed draft what needed to be discussed if the MPs were absent; this was not negligence or randomness, it was a position, and now we can discuss all the issues,” Nazaryan noted.

Arman Babajanyan inquired about the position of “My Step” concerning the President's address. The Deputy Speaker stated that “My Step's” official stance would be presented by Lilit Makunts.

Naira Zohrabyan declared in her speech that the only topics that should be discussed in this hall are the lifting of martial law and the resignation of Nikol Pashinyan, asserting that they have no moral right to discuss any other issues. “We must take Nikol Pashinyan by the hand and remove him from power, discuss with Russia, and try to defuse the hidden mines under the declaration. This was the greatest blow to Armenia from behind after the genocide,” emphasized the BHK MP.