Video: Gegham, Shall We Bet That You Won't Vote for Me? HRA Candidate Manukyan

The National Assembly is discussing the candidates for the vacant positions in the Commission on Television and Radio of the Republic of Armenia. Gegham Manukyan, a member of the "Armenia" faction, asked HRA candidate and former member of the "Civil Contract" faction Arthur Manukyan whether he still holds the same opinion that the return of prisoners should be addressed to Putin and Russia, as they are responsible, or if he has changed his opinion.

Arthur Manukyan responded that the responsible general from Russia went to bring back prisoners but returned without any. "A journalist tells me, 'Why didn't you bring back the prisoners?' and I say, 'You are asking the wrong person; he went to bring them back and didn't. Go ask that person,'" clarified the former deputy.

Regarding his statement that the opposition would not vote for his candidacy because they are affiliated with the Dashnaktsutyun party, Gegham Manukyan said he would vote for Manukyan because of the video against emigration, but when he recalls the video with "Yoz," he will not vote. "But the most important reason I wouldn’t vote is that since 2020, I haven’t seen anything related to the pain of losing a country—'I’ll step out of politics, I’ll step back in'—that’s why," said the opposition deputy.

Arthur Manukyan also stated that exhibition halls for demonstrating pain should not have been opened, and he would not accept "pain demonstrations" to show that he cares. "Gegham, you know me, it’s clear, right? You have no doubt that I care. You know, if in our media sphere attention had been paid to the educational factor, neither I nor you would speak with such tone from this podium; that is also an omission. Gegham, you've known me since I was 20; do you doubt that I care? You don't doubt it; you simply have a Dashnak decision not to vote, Gegham, I’m willing to bet you won’t vote for him because you are a Dashnak; there’s no other reason," declared Arthur Manukyan.