YEREVAN. – “At this point, I find inexpedient and consider unfounded the holding of an NA special session on the matter of the [recent] assault against [opposition MP] Aram Manukyan because our opposition colleagues’ demeanor showed that their objective is not resolving the matter, but making more political noise.”

National Assembly (NA) Vice-Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov, who is also Press Secretary of the ruling Republican Party (RPA), stated the above-said at a briefing Monday with reporters in the parliament. He noted this in response to a query on whether the RPA NA Faction will take part in the aforementioned special session, which the non-pro-government MPs plan to convene by way of a respective signature campaign.

These deputies demand adopting a declaration during this special session, and whereby they will demand the dismissal of Deputy Chief of Police, Internal Affairs Commander Lyova Yeranosyan.

Sharmazanov noted, however, that the NA speaker has submitted a draft statement which condemns the most recent violations against several opposition members.

“What else will the parliament do beyond that?” the NA deputy chairman asked?

He recalled that, pursuant to the law, solely the President of Armenia can appoint and dismiss the deputy police chief and internal affairs commander of the country.

“They [, the non-pro-government deputies,] did a show; [but] we [, the RAP Faction,] did not take part in the show,” Eduard Sharmazanov concluded.