In Reality, Pashinyan's Actions Have Never Been Imbalanced: MP from the Civil Contract Party

I cannot imagine anyone more patriotic than Pashinyan,” said MP Arus Manavazyan of the Civil Contract party in an interview with Parliamentmonitoring.am.

We present the interview in full:

Once again, bonuses are being awarded to state employees on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of independence. The parliamentary majority is being criticized for receiving funds from the budget at such a difficult time for the country. The opposition announced its refusal to accept these funds... Excuse me, how did they refuse? Is there any proof?

They declare that these funds will be directed to the implementation of various social programs. For example, Vanetsyan published a receipt regarding a transfer of funds to the Armed Forces Insurance Fund, and the Armenia Alliance also issued a statement.

I envision their refusal of these funds as follows: they will go to the National Assembly's accounting department, personally submit a request to the NA president, and return those funds to the budget's financial department. They can write an application and completely refuse the funds. They should have stated from the outset that they would refuse, and no funds would be transferred to them.

Directing finances to this or that program is not visible anywhere. I can consider it merely a statement.

Do you want proof? They are just statements. Vanetsyan published something, we understood, but what about the others?

Couldn’t they refuse the bonuses at this stage or direct them to the implementation of other, more urgent programs?

Look, each of us, including myself, is making the same level of investment in addressing the social issues of citizens who have reached out to us. Among them are also service members, war participants. But we never raise the topic. For instance, I myself will never publish any information about it. How is it possible for me to declare that I took my received money and gave it to some wounded service member or a citizen with problems? I consider that incorrect. You can be sure that each of us has such an investment.

Let the people evaluate the activities of politicians themselves; it is not for me to declare this.

As an MP dealing with economic issues, how do you envision the resolution of this question? Should salaries be increased in general, or should it continue like this?

This implies a change in general policy, and I believe the government will take steps in that direction. Let’s wait; perhaps there will be a resolution.

The entire state apparatus receives bonuses, from cleaners to leading specialists, but only MPs seem to be specifically targeted in the press.

But apart from MPs, the entire staff of the National Assembly also receives these bonuses. Why are only the bonuses received by MPs of interest to people? Why, for example, isn’t anyone asking the leading specialist about their received bonuses?

We do not have businesses; we are ordinary people working in the system.

By the way, you have assumed the powers of the director of the “Kond’s Country Houses” S LLC. You have been a director of a company, and your declaration indicates funds amounting to several million…

I worked as a director in that company, and before coming to the National Assembly, I submitted resignation requests from all my workplaces. I am neither a founder nor a shareholder there. Nothing. I have simply been an employee and received a salary.

Ms. Manavazyan, your biography shows that you are an active woman. Why did you decide to change your profession and come to parliament?

I have been in politics since 2017; I was a candidate for the National Assembly as part of the Yelk alliance, elected through the proportional electoral system from the 6th electoral district. I was also on the My Step list in 2018. I tried again this time. I worked for 15 years at the Armenian Times newspaper, first as the financial manager and later as the director. The decision wasn’t made in one day; it has taken years.

You are close to Nikol Pashinyan, and you probably know him well. Yes, for the past 15 years.

There are contradictory opinions about him; for instance, opponents say he does not respect his own word and is inconsistent—saying one thing and doing another. Knowing him well, what do you say about that?

There are absolutely no grounds for making such claims. I know Pashinyan as a quite balanced, intelligent, and patriotic person. I cannot imagine anyone more patriotic than him; at some point, I may doubt my patriotic impulses, but I do not doubt his patriotism. His opponents may not have interacted, worked with him, or known him at all. Knowing him, it is impossible to give such a rating.

Ms. Manavazyan, you said that Pashinyan is a balanced person, but we often see the opposite. You may have noticed it on an emotional backdrop, but in reality, he has never acted imbalanced.

Alright, regarding your plans: what will you do in parliament? Do you have projects or changes to work on?

I cannot specify at this moment; time will show my objectives. I have joined the permanent commission on financial-budgetary affairs, and I am also interested in the work of other commissions. I will participate in the meetings of the permanent commission on Territorial and Infrastructural Affairs and the Economic Commission. Although the electoral list was proportional, I plan to have regular meetings with the residents of Armavir province.