Sharmazanov: Armenian authorities exert no pressure on Prosperous Armenia Party, otherwise they wouldn't support PAP candidate at mayoral election in Gyumri

• Tuesday, October 2, 21:30

 The Armenian authorities are not going to exert any pressure on the Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), otherwise, they wouldn't support the candidacy of the PAP member Samvel Balasanyan at the mayoral elections in Gyumri, Vice Speaker of Armenian Parliament Edward Sharmazanov said in parliament when
commenting on the decision to deprive the PAP member Vartan Oskanian of his deputy immunity.

"Unfortunately, there are forces and politicians who distort the reality and speak of some political repressions. What repressions can be spoken about if the efforts of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) expanded the powers of the political opposition?", he said. He also stressed that the RPA is decisive in continuation of the reforms in the country, as the RPA has only one vector - strong, national and democratic Armenia.

To recall, on September 27 Prosecutor General Hovsepyan appealed to the Parliament for a permission to involve Vartan Oskanian as an accused party in the money laundering case against Civilitas Foundation. The appeal implies deprivation of deputy immunity, but not arrest. Oskanian has already made a statement saying that Aghvan Hovsepyan's appeal was a political order.  On June 12 the National Security Service of the Republic of Armenia submitted details of the criminal case against Civilitas Foundation initiated on May 25 (article 190.3 of the Criminal Code of the RA money laundering). The criminal case against the Civilitas Foundation concerns the $2mln transaction for the sale of Huntsman Building Products, an Armenia-based company owned by US-based Polymer Materials and Huntsman International.

To note, today Vartan Oskanian was deprived of his deputy immunity.  64 members of the parliament voted for and six - against, and one ballot was considered invalid. The total of 71 members of the parliament from the ruling Republican Party of Armenia and "Orinats Yerkir" party took part in the voting. All the opposition parties as well as the "Prosperous Armenia" Party boycotted the voting.