IMITATION
Support A1+!“Power is usurped in Armenia and all efforts taken by the authorities are directed to holding power to the maximum with minimum losses,” former deputy speaker of the National Assembly Karapet Rubinian said today.
Reminder: Rubinian was detained in connection with the March 1 events. He was released after giving a written undertaking not to leave the republic.
Rubinian’s opinion wasn’t backed by his opponent, the leader of the Christian-Democratic Union of Armenia (HKDM) Khosrov Harutiunian. He reminded that the parliament is also considered a branch of power. Judging by Rubinian’s words one can assume that the parliamentary election was also rigged while international observers assessed the election as compliant with European standards.
“The parliamentary election was really rigged,” said Rubinian. “But Ter-Petrossian’s return to the politics instilled hope in people.”
Khosrov Harutiunian thinks Ter-Petrossian was a bit late. If the Pan-Armenian National Movement (HHSh) didn’t run in the election it doesn’t give ground to assume that the election was rigged. Harutiunian agrees that the parliament doesn’t give equal footing to all political forces. Anyway, he doesn’t think that an extraordinary parliamentary election is a must at present.
Khosrov Harutiunian tried to compare today’s Armenia with that of 1996. “But what’s the use of drawing parallels? Democracy is boosting all over the world except Armenia,” said Rubinian.
In reply to A1+'s question concerning the March 1 occurrences, Khosrov Harutiunian said that all wrongdoers must shoulder responsibility and stand trial. A working group was to have been set up featuring representatives from the opposition, authorities and international experts to investigate the events and restore the reality. Harutiunian says the group wasn't set up because of the opposition.
Rubinian said in reply that within two and a half months the authorities had taken no steps in this respect and had made no suggestions.
Harutiunian welcomed the idea of forming a public council while Rubinian said it is a recurrent imitation.
If you want to know public opinion you should open A1+ and lift the ban on marches, said Rubinian.
