Bringing army out is anti-constitutional
Armenia doesn't have measures to create special forces for resisting emergency situations and that is why it engages the army," said Chair of the NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Issues at the National Assembly David Harutyunyan.
Deputy Lilit Galstyan said the lack of measures can't allow the government to breach the Constitution and bring the army out to the streets.
"Article 8 (2) of the Constitution clearly states that the armed forces are kept neutral and are under citizens' supervision," the deputy cited.
David Harutyunyan claims that there is simply no connection between the involvement of the army during a state of emergency and the Constitution.
"This doesn't mean that there should be no civil control at all," said David Harutyunyan.
Former speaker of the National Assembly Tigran Torosyan saw something clever in the draft law. According to Points 2, 3 and 4 of the draft law, the army can show participation, but according to Point 5, it can't set restrictions on rallies and public events.
Tigran Sargsyan, who was Chairman of the National Assembly on 1 March 2008, says he isn't against bringing the army out to the streets to protect the structures of special significance, but not to ban rallies.
