YEREVAN. – Armenia’s Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Yuri Vardanyan denied that his son is a drug addict, or is involved in illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs. 

The minister on Wednesday tried to dodge the journalists’ questions in every way, but to no avail.

At the end of the National Assembly (NA) discussions devoted to the 2014 State Budget, Vardanyan stated that everything is fine with him and his son, and asked the NA headship to keep him away from the news reporters’ queries.

But when the minister was leaving the NA Sessions’ Hall, the journalists demanded him to respect their rights and respond to their questions.  

The minister retorted that if he started to speak, he would speak for hours on end.  

“I have no problem; neither with me, nor with my son, nor especially with that matter you are saying,” he added. 

And to the query as to whether his son was involved in drugs, Yuri Vardanyan responded: “That is your opinion.” 

To note, Sport and Youth Affairs Minister Yuri Vardanyan’s eldest son, Davit Vardanyan, 29, was arrested on the Iran-Armenia border recently. Davit Vardanyan was detained while attempting to smuggle drugs at the border. Subsequently, he was arrested and sent to the detention center of capital city Yerevan’s investigation department. A criminal case is opened against Davit Vardanyan, and on charges of illegal trafficking of narcotic drugs.