Your trusted source

After the 2018 ‘velvet revolution’, the first major setback for democracy, pluralism, transparency and rights of the opposition can be recorded in the Armenian National Assembly, Bright Armenia opposition faction MP Edmon Marukyan told reporters in the parliament on Wednesday.

He recalled the statement of Lilit Makunts, the head of the My Step ruling faction, that the opposition has never been so strong.

The lawmaker’s comments came after the parliament voted down a bill drafted by Bright Armenia which proposed to set up an ad hoc committee to investigate the possible corruption risks in the Yerevan Municipality.

Marukyan says the move may mark the start of a new bad practice in the parliament. He cited the December 2019 statement of National Assembly Speaker Ararat Mirzoyan where he voiced support for the creation of the committee.

“The ad hoc committee should be considered as established as there is in fact political will to figure out the unknown or suspicious processes. There is a political will not to give the impression that the political majority intends to hide things,” Marukyan quoted him as saying.

The opposition MP said he is surprised how the parliament speaker, a top official, can have such a casual approach to his own statement.

According to Marukyan, with their steps the authorities further enhance the existing doubts rather than disperse them.