Arpine Davoyan: No One Cares That a Death Sentence Is Staged During the Rally and Open Violence Is Being Promoted

When our colleague Ani Samsonyan began to criticize various incidents of violence related to journalists and opposition figures, she subtly left out one of the most crucial events, when a group of people attacked the MP of the ‘My Step’ alliance, Hakob Aslanyan. No one in this room condemned that despicable act today. I am saddened by my colleagues' indifference.

This was stated by MP Arpine Davoyan from the podium of the National Assembly, adding: 'Sometimes I think that many of our colleagues speaking here believe that people visualize what is happening in Armenia through their words, waiting for what kind of statement they should make to conclude where things stand. I want to disappoint you because it is not like that. People are closely following what is happening in Armenia.'

According to Davoyan, today rallies are being organized by both the authorities and the opposition. During the gatherings organized by the latter, various words, violence, and insults are heard. 'They use whatever vocabulary they like about all of us - break legs, come and take people out of their homes, and so forth. People are not talking about this; they also don't talk about the fact that a theatrical performance is being staged there, where there is a scenario of a death sentence. No one cares that open violence is being promoted; instead, they care that during the march someone shouted something. I am saddened about that.'

'And no one wants to say that calls for solidarity and calls for calm are heard in Republic Square, stating that everyone in Armenia is our brothers and sisters, saying that those marching in the neighboring square are our relatives. And in general, those walking in Republic Square exclude any violence, the Prime Minister of Armenia speaking from the platform. No one from this podium has called for violence. And when our colleague Mrs. Hovsepyan says she wants to hear a call for unity, I must say that such calls for unity are being made; the question is whether you want to notice them or not. Or do you need the parallel reality presented from the podium that you desire,' said Davoyan.