Opposition Not Represented in Canada Delegation Formed by Alen Simonyan's Decision – 'Zhoghovurd'

The newspaper 'Zhoghovurd' reports: 'In Armenia, which has a parliamentary governing system, opposition MPs are deprived of the right to be included in international platforms and delegations and to express their opinions. Thus, 'Zhoghovurd' noted that a parliamentary delegation from Armenia will visit Canada from September 25-30, led by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan, for an official visit to Ottawa.

Once again, Alen Simonyan has included exclusively representatives of the ruling party in the delegation, selecting, in addition to himself, Arthur Hovhannisyan, the secretary of the ruling Civil Contract faction, known for his hooligan behavior, as widely reported in the press. The delegation also includes ruling party MPs Rustam Bakoyan, who has a notorious history of violence against his civil wife, Arman Yeghoyan, recognized for his impulsive character and involvement in numerous scandals and fights until now, and finally, Hasmik Hakobyan, who is Alen Simonyan's former assistant and the girlfriend of the Chief of the National Assembly Staff, Davit Arakelyan, whose relatives and acquaintances work in the National Assembly due to corrupt interventions.

And now, they are going to the exemplary, democratic country of Canada to represent the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia. Meanwhile, the National Assembly is a collective body that also includes two opposition factions. Particularly in parliamentary governing countries, opposition representation within the National Assembly's activities is mandatory.

'Zhoghovurd' inquired with the spokesperson of the National Assembly Speaker, Movses Harutyunyan, to clarify why there is no opposition representation in the delegation to Canada, formed solely by National Assembly Speaker Alen Simonyan's decision: 'The Speaker of the National Assembly deemed it appropriate to include those MPs in the delegation who are actively engaged in the Armenian-Canadian friendship group and have contributed to the development of friendly ties between the two countries,' the spokesperson replied. Thus, the National Assembly Speaker assesses who is a friend of Canada, while the head of the 21-member Armenia-Canada friendship group is Ishkhan Saghatelyan from the opposition 'Hayastan' faction, who has not been included in the delegation.'