YEREVAN. – I had to react to the fact that my colleagues have finally returned to pro-Armenian policy. Taron Simonyan, an MP of the opposition Bright Armenia Party, said this at Tuesday’s sitting of the National Assembly (NA), commenting on the ruling My Step bloc lawmakers’ reaction to the Azerbaijanis’ "repair works" at the Holy Savior Ghazanchetsots Armenian church in now Azerbaijani-occupied Shushi, Artsakh (Nagorno-Karabakh), which, however, are actually aimed at distorting the historical appearance of this ancient Armenian city.

This statement by Simonyan caused a furious reaction from the My Step MPs, and the NA Sessions’ Hall became very noisy.

Nevertheless, Simonyan continued to "praise" his colleagues from the parliament majority faction, and with mockery and a smile on his face.

The opposition lawmaker stressed that if the Armenian authorities really want to achieve the international community’s recognition of Karabakh's independence and the rights of Armenians living there, then Yerevan's policy should not contradict state rhetoric.