An activist hit parliamentarian Hrant Bagratyan after pouring water on him during today's picket in front of the Parliament against ratification of the Joint Air Defense system with Russia. The activist has been detained.
The activist said he hit the parliamentarian, as he did not like the way Bagratyan talked to them. After the situation calmed down certainly, the activists demanded Bagratyan to prevent the ratification of the above agreement. Bagratyan said he shares their views but can do nothing, as the majority of the parliamentarians have supported the agreement.
The Parliament is looking to ratify the above agreement at its extraordinary meeting on June 27. According to the agreement, in time of peace the Armenian side will have the right to use the system at its own discretion and time of war there will be a joint use of the system.
To recall, on October 23, 2015, the Russian Government approved the agreement on creation of a joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. The document was submitted for the Russian President's ratification. The Russian President announced the creation of the air defense system in November 2013. On November 11, Russia's President Vladimir Putin ordered to sign agreement between Russia and Armenia on creating joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. On December 23, 2015, Armenia's Defense Minister Seyran Ohanyan and his Russian counterpart Sergey Shoygu signed an agreement on creation of a joint air defense system with Armenia in the Caucasus region of collective security. Some Armenian military experts think the joint air defense system is already operating, given the presence of the 102nd Russian military base in Gyumri, Russian S-300 systems and MiG-29 planes, as well as the joint command system in the North Caucasus.