The NA Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs voted against the initiative to create a temporary NA ethics committee over the behavior of Communist Party MP Andranik Kocharyan at its April 25 meeting.
Arusyak Julhakyan of the Communist Party faction said there have been numerous cases of MPs behaving in a manner that violates ethical standards, but no ethics committee has been created. “Since it has not been created to date, I think Mr. Kocharyan is not responsible for this,” he said, insisting that his teammate had demonstrated unacceptable behavior.
Taguhi Tovmasyan, an MP from the I Have the Honor faction, also said that Kocharyan had violated the code of conduct and his behavior should be investigated. “It would be very good if Andranik Kocharyan apologized, we would understand that the person admitted his guilt,” he said.
Recall that Kocharyan attacked journalist Hripsime Jebejyan during a briefing, first demanding that she stay away from him, and then insulting him, saying: “Clean your lips.” Later, Andranik Kocharyan refused to apologize for his behavior.
Hripsime Jebejyan initiated the collection of signatures, demanding that the NA factions initiate the process of forming a temporary NA ethics committee to discuss the behavior of Communist Party MP Andranik Kocharyan.
The “Armenia” and “I Have the Honor” factions of the National Assembly, responding to the appeal, distributed the draft.