1 / 10

On February 4, in the RA National Assembly the press conference of the RA NA Delegation to PACE was held.

From January 26 to February 1 in Strasbourg almost the whole delegation took part in the works of the First Part of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe.

At the press conference the Delegation was represented with all members.

The Head of the Delegation Ruben Rubinyan assessed the works of the Session effective adding that four members of the Armenian Delegation were elected in a number of important posts in PACE.

The Member of the RA NA Delegation to PACE, the Member of My Step Faction Vladimir Vardanyan was elected Chairman of the Human Rights Sub-Committee of PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights, as well as Representative of PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights in the European Commission for Democracy through Law (Venice Commission).

The Member of the RA NA Delegation to PACE, the Head of Bright Armenia Faction Edmon Marukyan was elected First Deputy Chairman of PACE Committee on Legal Affairs and Human Rights.

The Member of the RA NA Delegation to PACE, the Member of My Step Faction Hovhannes Igityan was elected Deputy Chairman of the Political Group Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe /ALDE/.

The Member of the RA NA Delegation to PACE, the Member of My Step Faction Sos Avetisyan was elected Deputy Chairman of the Sub-Committee on Media and Information Society of PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media, as well as Substitute of Representative of PACE Committee on Culture, Science, Education and Media in the European Commission against Racism and Intolerance (ECRI).

Ruben Rubinyan informed that the Armenian Delegation presented a Draft Declaration in written form regarding the 30th anniversary of large scale pogroms of Armenian population in Baku which collecting sufficient signatures was posted on PACE official website.

During the Session a Resolution on political prisoners in Azerbaijan was also discussed, and it was adopted. The Member of the Delegation Naira Zohrabyan also highlighted the adoption of the document, noting that Azerbaijan succeeded to fail the adoption of the Resolution during lasting period, using the caviar and dollar diplomacy characteristic to it. The Member of the RA NA Prosperous Armenia Faction Naira Zohranbyan has quoted the works of the main Rapporteur of the Resolution, according to which, Azerbaijan is the only CoE country, where the situation remains simply disastrous in terms of democracy and human rights.

Hovhannes Igityan has noted that during the year such issues that are concerning for Armenia and other CoE member countries have been discussed. They refer to fake news, manipulation in mass media, political prisoners, elections and the item of peace in different regions.

The Members of the Delegation answered to the journalists' questions which mainly related to the announcements made recently by PACE Co-Rapporteurs on Armenia and the President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio. Let us remind that the announcements related to the tension existing between the RA Constitutional Court (CC) and the RA Prime Minister's Staff.

The Head of the Delegation, the Member of the RA NA My Step Faction Ruben Rubinyan has informed that he shares PACE Co-Rapporteurs' concerns, according to which, there is a great tension between the two institutes of Armenia, the RA Constitutional Court and the Prime Minister's Staff.

“I think this is not normal, and also this is the result that the CC President has made repeatedly political announcements which are of opposition character, i.e. the CC President who shall not be engaged in politics, in fact makes political statements,” Ruben Rubinyan noted.

Regarding the Declaration of the President of the Venice Commission, where it reads that passing to pre-term pension of the CC judges shall be of compulsory voluntary principle, then Ruben Rubinyan has quoted the announcement made by the RA Minister of Justice a few days ago, as if different circles turn to various pressures in order the CC judges, who wish to turn to pre-term pension, will be kept away from that step.

Ruben Rubinyan has informed that he is of the same opinion with Rustam Badasyan, and does not think that the abovementioned announcements were directed to the RA authorities.

The members of the opposition of the Delegation the RA NA Factions Prosperous Armenia and Bright Armenia Factions Naira Zohrabyan and Edmon Marukyan who were convinced that the announcements were addressed exclusively to the Armenian authorities and they were commenting them in their favour. According to Edmon Marukyan, there is distinct address in the announcements that the authorities shall comply with their actions to the rule of law.

Ruben Rubinyan opined not agreeing with the opposition viewpoints that if they /announcements/ were directed to the RA authorities, then they would be said to the Government.