Ara Babloyan leaves hall for 10 minutes as sign of protest (video)
Ruzan Muradyan, a member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), addressed to Nikol Pashinyan's candidacy for the post of Prime Minister at the special session of the National Assembly, asking him about the fact that a number of juveniles were participating in the protest rallies. "If you are elected prime minister, and if after some time other forces come out with other protests against you, what will be your approach to it when your children are among them?" In response, Nikol Pashinyan said: "I think one of the achievements of our movement is that many pupils are taking part in it. This will contribute to their formation as a citizen, and it will remain in their memory for at least a hundred years. During all of my protests, my children have been active as participants and I attach great importance to this." Ruzan Muradyan stated that this violates children's rights, in response to which Nikol Pashinyan said: "They were not forced to come, which you have seen for many times in your election campaigns, when the children were driven to your campaigns by balloons." After this, NA Speaker Ara Babloyan, addressing Nikol Pashinyan, said: "I will now act as you usually do. I will now leave the hall for 10 minutes to protest that you speak of children's rights in such a way. Hopefully, if you are elected president, international organizations dealing with children's rights will explain it you, and you will never make such a statement. I say this without expecting a response." After saying this, Ara Babloyan left the hall. "I hope you will return after 10 minutes, Mr. Babloyan," Nikol Pashinyan said. In just 10 minutes Ara Babloyan returned.
