The Knife Has Reached the Bone: BHK Proposes to Lift Martial Law in Armenia

The Prosperous Armenia Bloc (BHK) is proposing to lift martial law in Armenia. MP Arman Abovyan stated that the issue should have been discussed during the session of the National Assembly, but due to the absence of ruling party members, it was postponed to the session of the Defense and Security Committee of the National Assembly.

“Martial law does not correspond to the situation at all and poses a significant threat to all political processes. We see that political processes are very heavy in our country,” said Abovyan during the session.

Andranik Kocharyan, the head of the Defense and Security Committee, contested Abovyan, stating that martial law does not have a political nature. “They have blocked Demirchyan Street, they have blocked Baghramyan; they can hold protests as much as they want,” Kocharyan elaborated.

Abovyan also noted that the issue has a psychological aspect. “Martial law prevents the implementation of the process of the Prime Minister’s resignation and holding extraordinary elections. The knife has reached the bone; everything is tense; the situation is radicalizing,” Abovyan stated.

My Step representative Hayk Konjoryan raised an objection, saying that martial law does not prevent people gathered outside from expressing hate speech and being radical.

It should be noted that martial law was introduced on September 27, 2020, on the very first day of the Artsakh War. On February 26, the National Assembly was supposed to discuss the proposal of opposition MPs to hold an extraordinary session on this issue, but the meeting did not take place.