"Parliamentarianism Centre of Armenia" demands inquiry into MPs' voting

The "Parliamentarianism Centre of Armenia," has addressed the Special Investigatory Service on the voting in Parliament on February 9. According to the Centre, the adoption of the law "On Legal Regime of State of Emergency" was accompanied by facts of illegitimate voting of the MPs.

A video camera has recorded that MPs from the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) voted for their absent colleagues, said the "Radio Azatutyun".

The "Parliamentarianism Centre of Armenia", headed by the former MP Ruben Torosyan, demands that investigatory bodies bring the MPs of the ruling RPA to justice.

"If today the MPs from the RPA vote for their colleagues, tomorrow they'll falsify the parliamentary elections," said Vaan Ovannisyan, the head of the parliamentary faction of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (ARF) "Dashnaktsutsyun".

Samvel Balasanyan, Vice Speaker of the Parliament and a member of the Coalition Party "Prosperous Armenia", has confirmed that the MP Gukasyan voted not only for himself. "Yes, instead of Vartan Aivazyan, who was in the corridor, Areg Gukasyan has voted; however, there were 67 MPs in the hall, and the quorum was achieved," said Mr Balasanyan.

Galust Saakyan, the head of the parliamentary faction of the RPA and vice-chairman of the RPA, gave the following comment on the statements of oppositional deputies: "I can neither confirm nor refute the fact of voting instead of others. Meanwhile, the MPs from the faction 'Heritage' were absent for no valid reason; and it's a more serious violation than voting for one's colleague."

The "Caucasian Knot" has no comment yet from Areg Gukasyan himself on the fact that he had voted for his colleague.