Vardanyan Stands Up Abruptly and Moves Aggressively Towards Sahakyan: Statement from the Armenia Group

On March 31, 2023, during a closed session of the National Assembly's Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues, which was attended exclusively by MPs and representatives of Armenia's international legal affairs, an undesirable incident occurred. This was stated in a statement released by the Armenia Group regarding the incident that took place on March 31 in the National Assembly.

“At the end of the discussion, committee chairman, member of the Civil Contract party Vladimir Vardanyan exhibited ungrounded aggressive behavior towards opposition MPs. Armenia Group MP Mher Sahakyan urged him not to yell. Vladimir Vardanyan continued his disrespectful demeanor and shouting, abruptly stood up and moved aggressively towards Mher Sahakyan.

Mher Sahakyan, in self-defense, struck Vladimir Vardanyan once and, preventing the escalation of the incident, left the room. After the incident, Mher Sahakyan remained with the Armenia Group. Arriving police officers were informed that Mher Sahakyan was willing to voluntarily present himself to the police station.

At that moment, Alen Simonyan entered the group's room and made threats with erratic behavior, after which the police used disproportionate and brutal force against MP Mher Sahakyan, taking him to the police station.

Regarding the incident, the investigative committee issued a directed and one-sided statement without questioning eyewitness opposition MPs, making minimal efforts to clarify the reality, resulting in the wrongful arrest of the opposition MP. This is yet another case of clear discrimination based on political views, as similar and even more grotesque incidents involving ruling party MPs have either not initiated criminal proceedings or have been covered up.

Moreover, such behavior by ruling party MPs is encouraged by officials. The conduct exhibited by the ruling party members and the law enforcement system concerning this incident further confirms their ongoing political agenda to obscure crucial security issues of the country, divert public attention, consistently serve their power, and apply double standards.

Meanwhile, the causes of similar incidents in the National Assembly are the overreach of officials and the unacceptable violations of legislative and ethical rules due to the status of the legislators in their interpersonal relationships. We condemn this policy adopted by the majority in the representative body, the practice of serving their power to the law enforcement bodies, and the blatant application of double standards by them.

We urge the judiciary and law enforcement agencies to cease executing the unlawful demands of the ruling authorities, guided by an awareness of the public interest in accordance with the Constitution and the laws. We draw the attention of international and local institutions engaged in human rights protection to the anti-democratic and illegal behavior of Armenia's political authorities.