The Issue of Women's Representation on the Electoral List Taken Over by the Prime Minister's Wife Through Lena Nazaryan

“Hraparak” writes: “Recently, we wrote that there will be a noticeable problem concerning female candidates in forming the ‘My Step’ list, as most of the women included in the previous list are no longer with ‘My Step’. They have taken a more principled stance and, unlike men, openly expressed their opinions after the war—some withdrew publicly, while others quietly stepped aside. Narine Tukhikyan, Taguhi Tovmasyan, Gayane Abrahamyan, and Zarouhi Batoyan have exited the previous list, while Anush Bekhloyan and Lusine Badalyan will not be included by Pashinyan himself due to various scandalous stories.

We have learned that this time the issue of women's representation is being taken over by Nikol Pashinyan's wife, Anna Hakobyan, through Lena Nazaryan. Although there is an impression in ‘My Step’ that Nazaryan has the authority to decide who should be where on the list, who is totally excluded, and that women's mouths will be kept shut with dosseys gathered by law enforcement in order to prevent elections from becoming an arena for ‘slips’ or declarations.

Our government source states that Lena Nazaryan also wants to push her female friends forward, mainly representatives of the Soros wing, and primarily the great advocate of friendship with Turks, Maria Karapetyan, and Meri Galstyan, who has not distinguished herself during her parliamentary activity but joined Anna Hakobyan's ‘Eratto’ unit during the war and participated for several weeks in scenes of homeland defense near hotels in Goris.

However strange it may seem, Nazaryan is making efforts to ensure that the well-known Taguhi Ghazaryan also secures a winnable spot, despite being one of the most scandalous MPs of this parliament. It is said that Nazaryan has prepared ‘reports’ about their professional activities and will try to convince Nikol Pashinyan that Taguhi is more capable than many others, simply having missed luck and, due to inexperience, fell into the ‘mouth’ of reporters.

The Soros group is not particularly fighting hard for Heriknaz Tigranyan; they are prepared to present another woman in her place. By the way, this group considers their decision to remove the majoritarian electoral system from the Electoral Code and transition to a proportional system a victory. Despite half of ‘My Step’ opposing this, especially those who came to parliament by majority and have certain authority in their regions and thus hope to get re-elected under the majoritarian model, the Soros wing, being more cohesive and persistent, was able to achieve its goal through blackmail and pressure, convincing Pashinyan that the proportional model would also be in their interest since the number of voters would decrease and their votes would constitute a larger percentage of the total.

‘My Step’ is convinced that the women from Ararat Mirzoyan’s wing will also be excluded from winnable spots: Anna Karapetyan, Tatevik Gasparyan, Hripsime Grigoryan, whose husband is the assistant to the Speaker of the National Assembly, and Emma Palyan. Tatevik Hayrapetyan herself does not wish to continue along with the team. It is said that she has criticized Pashinyan during closed meetings for the November 9 document and stated that early elections are necessary, and the government cannot drag it out until the next one.

For Kristine Poghosyan, a close acquaintance of Ararat Mirzoyan, his friend Arpi Davoyan is fighting for her place, who is a former operative for Pashinyan and has taken on the role of delivering the dirtiest speeches against the opposition in this parliament, believing that Kristine should be allocated a place on her behalf. It should be reminded that Kristine is known to the public for her prominent confession that she would vote in favor of Pashinyan even if he presented one-sentence programs.

Sona Ghazaryan, who was included in the list by Pashinyan in 2018 for getting emotional during her speech, will also be excluded. The status of women who became MPs under the quota of the Armenian National Congress, particularly Tsovinar Vardanyan, daughter of Joko, and Arusyak Julhakyan, remains uncertain. Nazaryan's team believes that Tsovinar's usefulness coefficient is zero, yet Hakob Simidyann and Tigran Avinyan are trying to intercede for her. Simidyann is close to Tsovinar, while Avinyan is close to her councilor sister.

Nazeli Baghdasaryan was told that it is Nikol Pashinyan himself who has ‘chosen’ her, and she will be on a winnable spot—having served well and publicly defended Pashinyan will ensure her place in the next parliament,” the newspaper writes.