"Their citizen has turned away from them in 2018": MP Emma Palyan from the ruling party

"Aravot" newspaper reports: "There is no need to raise unnecessary noise. Our opposition colleagues are used to missing every opportunity and demanding a new one. They could have come to the parliamentary Q&A session and received answers to their questions," said MP Emma Palyan of the ruling Civil Contract party in an interview with "Aravot" in response to Ishkhan Saghatelyan's statement that "next week we will demand an extraordinary session, if they are men, let them come."

Palyan believes that some opposition MPs should be stripped of their mandates based on their numerous absences. When we reminded her that Nikol Pashinyan also did not participate in parliamentary sessions while marching from Gyumri in 2018, she replied, "The period you mentioned cannot be compared to today’s realities and the movement led by Nikol Pashinyan is not comparable to the current situation. Our opposition colleagues, who have taken to the streets today, are making moves that, to put it mildly, are not right. For example, what happened at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs? Just 1-1.5 months ago, our opposition colleague, Agnesa Kamoyan, was invited to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs by Ararat Mirzoyan. She went and received answers to all her questions. What was the reason to block the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and engage in minor hooliganism and create a show when they had answers to their questions? So, there is no comparison; back then there was support from the people."

When asked if it meant that back then the work of universities and several state institutions was being blocked and those doing it were considered a part of the people, while now the supporters of the opposition are no longer considered a part of the people, Palyan responded, "Of course, they are people, we respect those 4,000 individuals, but let's state one fact: back then there were hundreds of thousands of people in the streets. Demanding the removal of a legitimately elected government with 4,000 people is inappropriate and incomparable."

The opposition states that anyone from the ruling parties who does not say the phrase "Artsakh will never be part of Azerbaijan" will be "shunned". When asked if she is ready to repeat that sentence, Palyan replied: "I am not going to repeat any sentence at the request or urge of the opposition. One thing I can say: they have turned their back on their citizen in 2018, and they are not the ones to turn their back on the government elected by the citizens of Armenia. So let them think about how to tell these people to go home, that the movement has failed. Because sooner or later that moment must come. Many days have passed, and we have seen that they do not have the support of the citizens of Armenia. It is not possible to remove the government with that small number of people, or as they say, shun them. And it is entirely inappropriate to speak in such a vocabulary with a legitimate government."

We conveyed that the opposition says they should put earrings in their ears so that this movement ends with their victory, or else the statehood of Armenia and Artsakh will fall into the abyss. Palyan responded, "People who talk about the statehood of Armenia and the salvation of Artsakh organize demonstrations against the Prime Minister of Armenia just moments before the meeting with Aliyev in a foreign country. I do not think any adequate Armenian person would take such steps if they are not a traitor. They should have organized that demonstration not against Nikol Pashinyan, but against Aliyev, and if they do not understand that, then they should put large earrings in their ears, because the citizen of Armenia understands all this. Again, I say, their behavior, their past, and their present are the reasons why the citizens reject them, and I am sure they have been rejected forever and irrevocably."

Palyan stated that she is in daily contact with the residents of Shirak region and conveyed what they say about the movement: "They do not take it seriously. Everyone knows what the real purpose of these people, our opposition colleagues, is — the usurpation of power. They are not interested in either Artsakh or the statehood of Armenia. It is so obvious that if we walk in the streets and ask passing citizens, every second person will affirm that."

When we said that according to their argument, it is because you, Pashinyan, have "washed the brains" of people, made them "zombies", and you create such an impression in society with your fake factories, Emma Palyan replied, "Who are talking about fake factories? Most of the media is under the patronage of the opposition. No one has washed anyone's brain; they are wise, knowledgeable citizens and have their decisive and unequivocal opinion. Therefore, I believe that their movement will not succeed; it has already failed. I advise them to go home, return to the National Assembly, and let’s understand how the future will unfold. But there will be no change of power because the citizens of Armenia stand by our power."