VIDEO: You sent a flying drone bottle to the podium. Don't teach me how to conduct a meeting, Arshakyan to Ohanyan

The right to speak of a parliament member is being violated, all because of expressions we hear in the speeches of some members of the ruling party, which do not match reality. This was announced today, May 3, during an Armenian National Assembly session by Seyran Ohanyan, the head of the 'Armenia' faction, after the Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan deprived the right to speak to the secretary of the 'Armenia' faction, Artzvik Minasyan, in response to the speech of the ruling party member Arthur Hovhannisyan.

When Seyran Ohanyan stated, 'Your head of state says to plant a tree instead of a border guard,' the ruling party members responded from their seats that he is the head of state for all of us.

'Do not interrupt,' Ohanyan said, while Arthur Khachatryan from the 'Armenia' faction addressed the Deputy Speaker Hakob Arshakyan, saying, 'Is there no deprivation of the right to speak in this case? Why aren’t you making any comments?'

The situation escalated, and Arthur Khachatryan started shouting from his seat. Hakob Arshakyan called for calm, saying, 'Please calm down and don't raise your voice. You are being warned and I ask you to stop this discussion. Do not continue and do not shout. I must ask my colleagues to maintain silence in the hall.'

Seyran Ohanyan continued, 'I would suggest that you reprimand those who interfere with our speeches. Over the years, we have had a National Assembly whose leadership has taken no measures to ensure the continuity of these events. There have been altercations, there have been incidents, and during those incidents, I, as the faction leader, found ways to calm things down. After your National Assembly President Alen Simonyan appeared in my office, tensions have escalated, and various incidents have taken on a different course. In these 3.5 years, we have had a National Assembly president who has not once held a consultation among the faction leaders to create normal conditions if there are issues, and the one-sided approaches are reflected in your actions too,' stated Seyran Ohanyan.

After Ohanyan's remarks, Hakob Arshakyan responded to his speech. 'Since you mentioned my name, Mr. Ohanyan, you tried to reprimand and question the equal treatment, I would like to remind you that the incident you mentioned in the National Assembly arose because you sent a flying drone bottle towards the speaking member of parliament, and it was after that that the situation escalated. Secondly, I want to remind you that there are cursing members in your faction who are afraid to come to the hall right now because they fear they will be held accountable for what they say.'

Ohanyan replied, 'No one is afraid.'

Arshakyan continued, 'Thirdly, I wanted to tell you that we have a member who attacked the chair of the permanent commission during a working meeting and sometimes cannot contain himself, speaking from the seat. I want to say that when you admonish me, it means you are getting it backwards, and the reprimands are directed where my right to comment comes from. Please, do not teach me how to conduct a meeting,' said Hakob Arshakyan.