“You apparently have a dispute with PACE”: Vardevanyan to Civil Contract MP

The PACE report already openly speaks of selective prosecution in the Republic of Armenia. “Let’s first put an end to political persecution, and then you can discuss what steps might be taken in Armenia,” Aram Vardevanyan, Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly, said in parliament, addressing Sisak Gabrielyan, an MP from the Civil Contract faction.

Touching on the non-partisan status of Karen Arustamyan, a candidate for membership of the Supreme Judicial Council, Vardevanyan asked whether Arustamyan had attended Civil Contract’s final campaign rally.

In response, Gabrielyan said he could not know whether Arustamyan had been at the rally and suggested putting the question directly to the candidate. He added that no one from Civil Contract had invited Arustamyan to the rally.

Vardevanyan, in turn, questioned the reported turnout at the rally, noting that the PACE report also documents abuse of administrative resources, as well as group and individual pressure on citizens.

“You apparently have a dispute with PACE, which in itself is quite an interesting new culture,” Vardevanyan concluded, countering Gabrielyan’s remark.