If Zohabryan is deprived of her powers as head of the commission, the Prosperous Armenia Party will not nominate a new candidate

The Prosperous Armenia faction in the National Assembly considers the My Step initiative to deprive Naira Zohabryan of her position as head of the Permanent Commission on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs to be unconstitutional, describing it as political persecution. This was stated by Prosperous Armenia MP Arman Abovyan during a special session of the National Assembly, as reported by Armenpress.

He cited Article 96 of the Constitution, which states that a deputy cannot be prosecuted or held accountable for an opinion expressed or a vote cast during their term of office and thereafter. Abovyan also referred to Article 11 of the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly: 'The powers of a committee member are terminated if their parliamentary powers are terminated or suspended, they leave the committee, or they are removed from the faction if that faction appoints a member in their place,' he noted, adding that only these three provisions exist.

The My Step initiative justifies its project by stating that there is practically an impossibility for MP Naira Zohabryan to continue serving as head of the National Assembly's Permanent Commission on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs. On December 17, Zohabryan made a post on Facebook that included the following: 'I hate you, scum, who brought to power your like, who is slowly closing the pages of our statehood.'

‘Therefore, bringing such an unconstitutional project is nothing but political persecution against Naira Zohabryan,’ noted Arman Abovyan. The MP pointed out that in accordance with the Don’t’ Resolution, the quota for the head of the Permanent Commission on Human Rights Protection and Public Affairs belongs to the Prosperous Armenia faction.

‘And we declare that if you deprive Ms. Zohabryan of her powers as head of the commission through your illegal vote, then the Prosperous Armenia Party and faction will not nominate anyone for that position. Think about your responsibility tomorrow,’ he added, stating that they would not participate in discussions on this matter.

Following this statement, MPs from the Prosperous Armenia faction left the hall.