VIDEO: Marukyan, you crossed the red lines you should not have crossed – Papikyan to Marukyan

An individual who only spent a few seconds in my two-day parliament session has come and sat in the chair of the number one opposition and is trying to wear the robe of the former number one opposition leader Nikol Pashinyan, which he fails to do, said the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Suren Papikyan, addressing Edmon Marukyan, the leader of the 'Bright Armenia' faction. He remarked that the territorial administration minister and the deputy prime minister have barely arrived at the last moment during today’s discussions on the government’s performance in the National Assembly.

“Dear, if you have not been in the meeting hall and have not seen us, or your grandeur and greatness are such that you do not want to notice us here, I must note that we have been constantly in our place and fulfilling our duties as members of the government. Now let’s move on to the rest. What does Mr. Marukyan say? He says, 'Look at what kind of car Mr. Papikyan is using.' Here the key word is 'servicing'. Yes, the minister is served by an official car, not for Suren Papikyan but for the institution that must be in that role. Mr. Marukyan, a question arises for me, does your faction leader go to Vanadzor with a shared taxi?” Papikyan stated. He added that such remarks can only be made by someone who has refused the ministerial car and has turned down the housing compensation entitled to them by law.

“Essentially, the person first lies that we have not been here. Until when, brother, and to where?” added Papikyan. He emphasized that this time the third path chosen is merely a 'defeat alibi of the Bright Armenia party.' “Because your predetermined defeat is today’s confusion. First, please express yourself very correctly about the political force and its leader under whose shadow you have smoothly come to settle here. If we haven’t said it, do we not know how you gathered those votes in 2018? Or do the people not hear you, or do they not know how you gave your votes? You said, 'People, we are together, give us so that there could be many.' This time it will not happen. You crossed the red line that you should not have crossed.”

He continued to address the calls directed at the former members and the attempts to purify the previous government, stating that will also fail. “So what do you propose – not to talk about October 27, not to talk about March 1, not to talk about the 30 years of plundering Armenia? You say, 'You are responsible for 10% of the 30 years; what have you done, what has changed in your life?' Mr. Marukyan, during the campaign, when you visit any community, you will see the results of the work done by my ministry. If you are trying not to see it, the public sees it and will show both me and you our place.”

He concluded, “Or you say, ‘You have become a minister; who should have elected you as a minister?’ Well, we were in the same political unit when the process started. Yes, the citizens of the Republic of Armenia made the revolution; did we have no connection there? Or how is it that after the revolution, I and my colleagues became ministers, and you did not? There are reasons, and the public knows those reasons.” Papikyan stated. He emphasized that those forces who are today taking on the shameful duty of cleansing the previous government and blaming all the sins on the current government will find their place in the relevant chapter of history.