Arthur Hovhannisyan Must Resign, Apologies Do Not Resolve the Issue: Taguhi Tovmasyan

MP Taguhi Tovmasyan demands that the ruling party member Arthur Hovhannisyan resign his mandate. “Dear compatriots, I want to start the day with words of gratitude. I thank all of you—the hundreds of acquaintances and strangers who have shown their support by calling, writing, approaching me in person, standing by my side. I have once again been convinced that solidarity is unifying, and I am not alone on the path of defending my truth.

I thank political and public figures, representatives from various organizations, and individuals. Your voices condemning the bullying behavior of the ruling faction's secretary are valuable. Special thanks to the female MPs of the National Assembly who voiced their position promptly regarding the unacceptable behavior of the ruling party's secretary. I also thank the two opposition factions for their willingness to form an ethics committee.

Let it not sound strange, but I also thank those few representatives of the ruling party who showed the will to condemn Arthur Hovhannisyan’s disgraceful behavior. Yes, even within the government, there are people who are embarrassed by the abhorrent behavior of their faction’s secretary but are afraid to speak up.

Continuing, I emphasize that my letter addressed to the Speaker of the National Assembly, demanding to require Arthur Hovhannisyan to take a drug test, is completely justified. From August 1, 2025, this obligation will be imposed on all doctors by the new regulation. What the government demands from a doctor should also be required of an MP, a minister, and other officials.

Secondly, Hovhannisyan’s behavior is evidently beyond the ethical norms expected of a National Assembly member. Sobriety and decency are crucial characteristics of adequacy, without which the state apparatus is at risk. My proposal stems from the interests of protecting the National Assembly institution, to which the responses were not substantive counterarguments or political assessments but dirty and contemptuous remarks presenting their corruption as a norm.

As a result, the technique of humiliating a woman ensured a boomerang effect for a man who, in fact, may need help today. Regarding the creation of an ethics committee in the National Assembly, I do not want to pursue symbolism. It is already clear that this committee will not display the political will to punish Arthur Hovhannisyan, thus there is no point in working on it. The arrogant silence of the government is proof of what I am saying.

But it is evident that neither the ethics committee nor yesterday’s apology can close the chapter on this disgraceful behavior. Arthur Hovhannisyan has crossed a red line that, unfortunately, is not a full stop but a precedent that cannot go unpunished. He must resign his mandate. Arthur Hovhannisyan cannot escape legal responsibility. I will achieve that.

P.S. Nikol Pashinyan's silence is a justification for legitimizing this dangerous precedent, which is a new quality of challenge at all levels of public solidarity—from everyday to legal. What I am saying is not an exaggeration. Arthur Hovhannisyan should receive a farewell SMS; otherwise, it will result in the impression that the state and all the values and moral norms it is based on are meaningless,” stated the deputy.