Aghazaryan Accepts Nikol Pashinyan as Prime Minister of Armenia but Does Not Like Him

Armenian National Assembly deputy Hovik Aghazaryan stated on January 23 during a conversation with journalists near the courthouse that some of the conversations recorded in court are related to a criminal case; however, it is clearly heard that Aram Mkrtchyan gave him a loan, not a bribe.

According to him, in the episode on which the Prosecutor General has presented a request to strip him of his immunity, it is evident that the discussion involves a loaned amount of money, as Aram Mkrtchyan also speaks about it, demanding the return of the debt. “But I have returned that loaned money,” Aghazaryan said, adding that he has also been willing to help resolve Mkrtchyan's issues with other individuals.

The deputy pointed out that it is impossible for someone to owe $50,000, return a large part of it, and not expect the remainder. He noted that the last time Aram Mkrtchyan took money was in December 2023, and he left Armenia in February 2024.

In response to remarks that the legal proceedings began after a dispute between him and former National Security Committee chairman Argishti Kyaramyan in the National Assembly, Aghazaryan stated that there was no meeting or “razborka.” “If he names names and proves it, but if not, then he is a vile scoundrel. Those words remain in effect,” he remarked, referring to Kyaramyan’s statements that intermediaries had contacted him regarding his son's business matters.

Aghazaryan also mentioned that he is not currently under any pressure, recalling that after the Prime Minister's well-known SMS, he had four meetings with the head of the NSS.

When asked how he would react to Argishti Kyaramyan's potential new high appointment, Aghazaryan responded that he loves his homeland and state and accepts Nikol Pashinyan as the Prime Minister of Armenia, but he does not like him.

It is noteworthy that the court hearing regarding Hovik Aghazaryan's case has been postponed to February 6 at 12:00 PM.