Tweet
NA COMMITTEE SAYS MP ALEXANYAN ACTED IN VIOLATION OF ETHICAL STANDARDS
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
01.11.12 | 15:11
The Armenian National Assembly's Ethics Committee has concluded
that Republican MP, businessman Samvel Alexanyan's conduct towards
oppositional activist Vargdes Gaspari was unethical and not befitting
a parliamentarian. Four out of the six committee members believe
Alexanyan has violated rules of ethics.
Enlarge Photo Vargdes Gaspari
The incident between Alexanyan and Gaspari, known for his eccentric
and strictly oppositional conduct, happened in June, when Gaspari was
holding a protest in front of the government building against now
former MP, businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan over the tragic Harsnakar
affair (security guards brutally beat three military doctors, one
of them Vahe Avetyan died in hospital, and Hayrapetyan was forced
to put down his mandate to pacify the civic society). With a poster
"Ruben Hayrapetyan is a murderer" in his hand Gaspari was giving an
interview to a reporter - and the interview was being video recorded -
when Alexanyan, a friend of Hayrapetyan, came up all of a sudden and
took away the poster. Then a young man approached Gaspari and pushed
him, causing him to fall.
Gaspari personally turned to the committee that consists of six members
each representing one faction. The decision of the committee, however,
cannot have any legal consequences. Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun faction member of the committee Artsvik Minasyan says
it may have "political consequences". By the committee charter the
decision will be announced during the next plenary session of the
parliament.
The committee earlier refused to look into two other cases: one related
to homophobic comments (vice speaker Eduard Sharmazanov after DIY
gay-friendly pub blast) and the second related to alleged shooting
at a lawmaker.
Gaspari told ArmeniaNow that the decision has moral value to him:
"It's a moral norm. I have no idea what I will gain from it, frankly.
But I should say that last week I held another protest in front of
the parliament building with similar posters and this time I was
not subjected to violence. I cannot say for certain why," said the
activist adding that he had filed a lawsuit on the crime (Avetyan's
murder) and the police's inertness, but the court rejected it. He
has now turned to the court of cassations.
By Siranuysh Gevorgyan
ArmeniaNow
01.11.12 | 15:11
The Armenian National Assembly's Ethics Committee has concluded
that Republican MP, businessman Samvel Alexanyan's conduct towards
oppositional activist Vargdes Gaspari was unethical and not befitting
a parliamentarian. Four out of the six committee members believe
Alexanyan has violated rules of ethics.
Enlarge Photo Vargdes Gaspari
The incident between Alexanyan and Gaspari, known for his eccentric
and strictly oppositional conduct, happened in June, when Gaspari was
holding a protest in front of the government building against now
former MP, businessman Ruben Hayrapetyan over the tragic Harsnakar
affair (security guards brutally beat three military doctors, one
of them Vahe Avetyan died in hospital, and Hayrapetyan was forced
to put down his mandate to pacify the civic society). With a poster
"Ruben Hayrapetyan is a murderer" in his hand Gaspari was giving an
interview to a reporter - and the interview was being video recorded -
when Alexanyan, a friend of Hayrapetyan, came up all of a sudden and
took away the poster. Then a young man approached Gaspari and pushed
him, causing him to fall.
Gaspari personally turned to the committee that consists of six members
each representing one faction. The decision of the committee, however,
cannot have any legal consequences. Armenian Revolutionary Federation
Dashnaktsutyun faction member of the committee Artsvik Minasyan says
it may have "political consequences". By the committee charter the
decision will be announced during the next plenary session of the
parliament.
The committee earlier refused to look into two other cases: one related
to homophobic comments (vice speaker Eduard Sharmazanov after DIY
gay-friendly pub blast) and the second related to alleged shooting
at a lawmaker.
Gaspari told ArmeniaNow that the decision has moral value to him:
"It's a moral norm. I have no idea what I will gain from it, frankly.
But I should say that last week I held another protest in front of
the parliament building with similar posters and this time I was
not subjected to violence. I cannot say for certain why," said the
activist adding that he had filed a lawsuit on the crime (Avetyan's
murder) and the police's inertness, but the court rejected it. He
has now turned to the court of cassations.