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"The candidate for the post of the Chairman of the Parliamentary Committee on State and Legal Affairs has ruled the Committee since January 2019, and the period coincided with total collapse of Armenia's legal system," member of opposition Armenia Faction Artur Ghazinyan stated on Monday during the debate on electing the Chairman of the Committee. 

To note, the ruling Civil Contract Faction has nominated Vladimir Vardanyan to the post of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs. 

Ghazinyan recalled the blocking of the Courts by citizens and the controversial Constitutional amendments adopted by the parliament in blatant violation of the Constitution as two examples of many legal challenges to describe the professional record of the candidate. 

Ghazinyan insisted that numerous examples come to prove that the legal system in Armenia is destroyed, and the ongoing selective criminal cases, the charges, arbitrary detentions and arrests are the result of that. 

He recalled that at least 14-15 deputies from the two opposition factions are currently under criminal prosecution. The criminal cases opened following the demonstration that took place after the November 9 ceasefire statement, the measures of restraints in the past nine months took place amid only one investigative action initiated by the law enforcement. 

"At least 14 members from our Armenia Faction and I have Honour Faction have to turn to the Special Investigation Service every time to realize their activity for external interactions. They should ask for permission for a visit to some place for meetings, and the investigative bodies should decide whether allow or not," said the opposition MP, 'congratulating' the ruling force for another notorious achievement.

"Armenia has the first parliament in its history where 15 MPs are under criminal prosecution, and all of them are from opposition," stressed Ghazinyan. He suggested the candidate for post of the Committee Chairman is biased, has moved away from the law and acts outside of the rule of law and equal rights.