70% of Participants Are Paid: I Can Say This Looking into the Beautiful Eyes of Bishop Bagrat - Hovik Aghazaryan

Tert.am interviewed Hovik Aghazaryan, a member of the National Assembly and representative of the 'Civil Contract' faction, regarding the impeachment process, ongoing rallies in the country, and other issues.

- Mr. Aghazaryan, the opposition has initiated an impeachment process; what do you think about its chances?

- It’s a pointless waste of time because they do not even have enough signatures for the issue to enter the agenda. For the question to be on the agenda, at least 19 deputies from our faction must join that initiative, which is impossible.

- Do you rule out the possibility that such deputies could be found?

- Not even one person will join this initiative. We believe that we have elected the Prime Minister, and together with him, we should realize the obligations or shortcomings we have taken on during the accountability period.

- Do you acknowledge that there is considerable dissatisfaction with the Prime Minister and your team right now? Back in 2018, the ruling power also had a belief in their irreplaceability.

- My opinion is subjective, and I could be wrong, but the difference lies in the fact that in 2018, it was not our team that made the revolution; rather, we conducted certain organizational processes, the revolution was made by the people. The foundation at that time was different; now it is different, but again, I say, consider my opinion subjective.

- Of course, there is dissatisfaction with our team. Some are dissatisfied that we did not keep Robert Kocharian and Serzh Sargsyan in jail, others are upset that we cannot bring back the looted items, and I should say that the processes are quite advanced here. Some are dissatisfied that we did not give them a position; there are various grievances. I respect all those people who justify their political stance against us based on their values and principles; that mass is a powerful and decisive mass. I might not agree with their opinion, but I respect them.

- Mr. Aghazaryan, will street pressure lead to a change of power?

- If we are talking about hundreds of thousands, then that will have a significant impact. If we are talking about ten, twenty, or thirty thousand, then there is only one option: that some people gathered around Serzh Sargsyan and Robert Kocharian organize a situation where 200-300 headstrong people physically destroy 10-15 government officials or deputies, and then the rest will go their way with their ideas. It can't be any other way because they are not prepared to come to power through elections; they know they won't come to power through elections.

- I’m not saying that the people will only vote for us or mainly for us, but they certainly will not vote for them either.

- The movement is led by Bishop Bagrat; there are no political forces on the platform. What headstrong people?

- The Bishop is just a figurehead, and it is very bad that such an intelligent, somewhat likable person is being used for the advantage of others, especially considering his ecclesiastical status. That plays a very poor role, and I don’t want to use more impactful words, but it will not achieve any results. Certain forces are trying to use the Bishop, and the Bishop is using certain forces.

- Right now, he is nicely resting and telling people to go block the streets. People have taken money to come to the rally; they weren’t given the morning’s money for what street should they close.

- What money, Mr. Aghazaryan?

- Money, the currency.

- Do you believe that money is given to the participants of the rally?

- 70 percent, yes.

- How do you have such a belief?

- I not only have a belief, but I also organized a research study.

- You are now accusing at least 30,000 people of taking money?

- Not everyone; I apologize to those who are doing this based on their principles, but for the most part, yes, they are being paid. At that time, people called me and said they wanted to come to Yerevan for the rally from the province but did not have the money. I asked if we could offer them money for the bus, and we said we don't offer money; we said, if you want to come, come; if you don’t want to, don’t come, and people would come. Now why should someone get up at 8 in the morning to go block the street? Isn’t that person insane if they weren’t paid? What street are they going to block?

- Mr. Aghazaryan, 134 people have been detained; are you aware? Some, of course, were unable to escape.

- I am not aware; how would I know?

- Do you have evidence that, for example, the 134 people detained were paid?

- Those who ran away from detention were also paid. My political assessment is that 70 percent of the rally participants are being paid.

- Why don’t you file a report about the crime?

- That is my political assessment. I can stand before Bishop Bagrat, look into his beautiful eyes, and say: 'Bishop Bagrat, if 70 percent of those gathered here are not paid, let all your Saints curse me and my family.'