«Turn Off the Microphone»: Tensions Rise in the National Assembly

During a speech in the National Assembly today, June 11, MP Arthur Khachatryan from the 'Armenia' faction asserted that the current authorities are spreading two major lies and attempting to impose them on the public.

“The first lie is that everything happening is funded from abroad. When you ask the prosecutor general they appointed, they say there is no evidence of foreign funding. When you inquire with the deputy head of the Investigative Committee, they say the same. Security agencies remain silent because if there is foreign funding, those individuals ought to be held accountable. So, bring us something to substantiate those lies—tell us a dime has come from abroad, and we will ask you about the money that arrived from Sakhalin for your revolution; what do you say about that? Have you forgotten, or are you trying to shift your foreign funding onto others?” he stated.

In response to interruptions from the floor, Khachatryan replied, “Don’t you know? Listen to the statements of your leader from July 27, 2018. They even provided a number, but you should read it; I won’t do your homework for you. Where do you think you heard those wiretaps from? Did the NSS come to talk about the wiretaps? Yes, the NSS has published about the rice, and they published about the pandemonium as well, so how are you going to escape from under this lie?”

Following his statements, MPs from the ruling Civil Contract party again reacted from the floor, to which Arthur Khachatryan responded, “Sit quietly in your seats then, and stop commenting on my speech, okay? Is there a football commentator sitting here, commenting on my words?”

Afterwards, the Speaker of the National Assembly, Alen Simonian, announced that Khachatryan's microphone should be turned off and added that the speech was over.