Did You Sign the Document Under Threat or Is It an Expression of Will? Taron Simonian to the Prime Minister

Did you sign the document under threat or is it an expression of will? These questions were directed at the Prime Minister by Taron Simonian, a member of the “Enlightened Armenia” faction, during a question-and-answer session with government officials in Parliament. Simonian pointed out that a document has been signed that violates international law and the Constitution of Armenia in several instances, and furthermore, it has not come into effect according to our legislation, yet it is being implemented.

In response, Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan noted that he had already provided clarifications regarding the circumstances of signing the document and had nothing new to add. Addressing the member of parliament, he also remarked, “There is a contradiction in your words because on one hand you say it’s not a legal document, while on the other hand you say it is a legal document.”

Pashinyan emphasized that the greatest issue is that the people of Armenia must not lose their right to form power in Armenia and their right to free expression in any of the processes. “No other country’s media in Armenia decides who the Prime Minister of Armenia is, and it should not be that way. In Armenia, it is the people who decide who the Prime Minister is, and that must continue to be the case,” said Pashinyan. He reiterated that the document is about a ceasefire and cessation of military operations, which was signed considering the situation at that moment.

Responding to the Prime Minister, Simonian noted, “You did not answer my question.”