You Have Launched a Criminal Case to Shift the Burden of Guilt off Your Shoulders: Marukyan to Pashinyan

For three months, we have been proposing to create a fact-finding group to investigate the pre-war period, examine the management of the war, and the course of negotiations, and present a relevant report to our people. However, the My Step Alliance has opposed the establishment of a fact-finding group. This was stated by LHK leader Edmond Marukyan during a question-and-answer session with the Government in the National Assembly.

Subsequently, addressing Nikol Pashinyan, he said, “I want a response from the Prime Minister as the commander during the war, the number one negotiator, and now, the one primarily responsible for the crisis.” In response, Nikol Pashinyan provided several justifications, not hiding that he was against the formation of such a fact-finding group. Moreover, he complained that the commission proposed by LHK should be formed 70 percent from those political forces that have already provided answers to various podiums.

“If there is a need for investigation for those forces, why have they already published conclusions?” asked Nikol Pashinyan. He emphasized that there are currently more than a thousand criminal cases related to the war under investigation.

“The political mechanism for investigation is embedded in the existing legislation and that mechanism is the National Assembly. I believe that the truth about the war has been discussed enough and I agree that everything should be clarified down to the last detail, but I want to remind you, there are more than a thousand criminal cases initiated, and it is not as if they have given us the answers to the questions we need at this moment, but everything should be done to obtain those answers,” said Nikol Pashinyan.

Edmond Marukyan countered that there was also a criminal case regarding the events of March 1, but a fact-finding group was formed in the parliament. Criminal cases related to the April war were initiated, but an investigative commission was created. Moreover, he announced that they had drafted a bill on establishing such a fact-finding group.

“Creating an investigative commission is fraught with the fact that it will not have the level of trust because it will predominantly be formed by those in power, therefore the legitimacy will be low. There will be no trust regarding criminal cases. The following will be that you have launched a criminal case to shift the burden of guilt off your shoulders,” stated Edmond Marukyan.

The Prime Minister also mentioned that he has not yet familiarized himself with Marukyan's proposal. “Let me not continue my answer at this moment, I will familiarize myself with that text and respond. My answer was based on your previous text.” Edmond Marukyan also handed over the draft to Nikol Pashinyan for him to review.