Independent MPs Demand Discussion on the Conduct of Nikol Pashinyan's Father-in-law Hrachya Hakobyan

Independent MPs Sofia Hovsepyan, Anna Grigoryan, Gor Gevorgyan, Taguhi Tovmasyan, Vardan Atabekyan, and Gevorg Petrosyan have submitted a written appeal to the parliamentary factions, proposing the establishment of an ethics committee concerning the statements made by Hrachya Hakobyan, a member of the ‘My Step’ faction.

This was stated by MP Sofia Hovsepyan in a conversation with ‘Pastinfo’. It is noteworthy that following the protests against Nikol Pashinyan in Syunik, a criminal case has been initiated, resulting in the detention of several dozen residents from Syunik, some of whom experienced unprecedented humiliating treatment, which was even recorded on video.

In response to the videos, Hrachya Hakobyan, a member of the ‘My Step’ faction and Pashinyan's father-in-law, had stated, “They should be detained like that; what else should be done?”

Former MP Sofia Hovsepyan emphasized that this is an interference in the activities of the National Security Service (NSS) and the police. “An MP has no right to influence the work of the NSS and the police. No one has the right to violate the constitutional norms established in the country and to humiliate or intimidate a person. Especially when this is suggested by an MP, who is an elected individual by the public and is obliged to be more diligent in implementing the law, rather than evading it,” said Sofia Hovsepyan.

It should be noted that the formation of the ethics commission is contingent on the votes of the parliamentary majority, but Sofia Hovsepyan doubts that ‘My Step’ will support the establishment of such a commission. “I don’t believe they will be in favor, as this attitude is not new to them,” the MP remarked.

Following the protests in Syunik, Nikol Pashinyan instructed law enforcement agencies to deal with the participants of the demonstration. Sofia Hovsepyan categorized this phenomenon as illegal. “While it’s normal for appropriate measures to be taken through legal application, giving an instruction voluntarily for law enforcement to take action is illegal. The fact that law enforcement agencies, which were previously criticized for becoming Serzh Sargsyan's plaything, have now turned into Nikol Pashinyan's toy is quite evident. The authorities are fundamentally contradicting the values they initially established,” the MP concluded.