Your trusted source

The Speaker of the Armenian National Assembly (NA) Ara Babloyan missed the ceremony marking the 100th anniversary of the First Republic of Armenia at Sardarapat Memorial Complex held on Monday morning.

Panorama.am turned to the deputy chief of the NA staff Arsen Babayan to comment on Babloyan’s absence. As it turned out the Speaker Babloyan has not been invited.

“In previous years, the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia - as a separate branch of the power – used to receive invitations to the event with full staff according to the established protocol. This year a different approach was shown. The chairmen of the NA committees were not invited to the celebration. Neither deputy speakers of the National Assembly, nor the president of the parliament were invited, while Babloyan was invited to the event as the one from the three members of the Republican Party,” Babayan said.

He further stated that at the parliament request to provide the protocol regarding the NA Speaker’s participation in the event, the organizers had informed that the speaker has not been included in the trio (President, Speaker and Prime Minister) to partake at the official part of the ceremony, which has long been the case during previous years. 

“Thus, the Speake of the National Assembly Ara Babloyan considers as inadequate approach has been displayed toward the legislative body which is a separate branch of power,” our interlocutor concluded.