National Assembly adopts controversial law on emergency situation
The National Assembly of Armenia has adopted by second reading the controversial draft bill on ‘Legal Regime of Emergency Situation' which was earlier called back by the Government and amended.
The new law which received the support of 68 MPs implies that the contact between armed forces and the public will be restricted during emergency situations. It also allows intervention of armed forces during emergency situations.
Before the voting, the head of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation-Dashnaktsutyun faction, Vahan Hovhannisyan asked NA Speaker Samvel Nikoyan for a 20-minute break.
Speaking to journalists in the corridor, Mr Hovhannisyan said they would try their best to prevent the adoption of the disputable bill in the half-empty hall.
For his part, head of the Republican Party (HHK) faction Galust Sahakyan the parliamentary opposition need not pin great hopes since ‘the law will be passed by all means.'
"What is he hinting at?" was Hovhannisyan's reply.
Former NA speaker Hovik Abrahamyan was in parliament today but he refrained from speaking to journalists.
