Prosperous Armenia party leader’s press secretary Iveta Tonoyan reacted to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan’s claim that if patrol officers connected to Gagik Tsarukyan had not yet been dismissed, then they should be removed from their posts, since even he does not have that many acquaintances holding positions. Tonoyan described “this assessment-instruction” as “a direct threat to all opposition forces and figures.”
Pashinyan had said: “For example, are there 52 people in the patrol service connected to me?… If there are, of course they should be dismissed. If I find out something like that exists and they haven’t been removed, then I will remove the person who failed to dismiss them. Then how did Tsarukyan’s son flee Armenia after firing shots?”
Tonoyan also listed officials whom she said are connected to Pashinyan.
“The day before, party chairman Gagik Tsarukyan stated during a meeting with voters that a large number of patrol officers in Kotayk Province had been dismissed because their family members support his party.
Minutes later, the Interior Ministry rushed to deny this information, but today it became clear that such haste was unnecessary, because just minutes ago Nikol Pashinyan effectively confirmed Tsarukyan’s information and even added that if they have not yet been dismissed, then they definitely should be, since even he does not have that many acquaintances in office.
First of all, this assessment-instruction, which clearly contradicts the law, is a direct threat to all opposition forces and figures. Even absurdity should have limits. What does this mean — that if you have a relative, acquaintance or neighbor working in law enforcement or the state system, you cannot support or sympathize with any political force, because by Nikol Pashinyan’s direct order they will be dismissed? In reality, that is exactly how it is.
And secondly, when Nikol Pashinyan says that even he does not have as many familiar patrol officers as Tsarukyan mentioned, because there are supposedly no people from his circle in that system, let me refresh his memory.
Yes, perhaps there are no patrol officers from your circle, but your classmate Vahe Ghazaryan was until recently interior minister, your godfather Hayk Ghalumyan is currently governor of Tavush Province, your brother-in-law Hrachya Hakobyan has received a parliamentary mandate for the second time thanks to his brilliant acting in television series, former Haykakan Zhamanak journalist Vahagn Hovakimyan is now chairman of the Central Election Commission, your nephew Sipan Pashinyan was a parliament member, and Hakob Simidyan, who sheltered you while you were wanted, was environment minister. I could continue this list much longer.
By the way, there are several other positions to which Nikol Pashinyan personally appointed himself and still continues to serve in them today.
Nikol Pashinyan — Prosecutor General of Armenia
Nikol Pashinyan — Chief of Police of Armenia
Nikol Pashinyan — Director of Armenia’s National Security Service
Nikol Pashinyan — Judge in various courts who reads out verdicts against someone every day during the campaign,” Tonoyan said.
On May 13, during an election campaign event in Tavush Province, party leader Gagik Tsarukyan claimed that 52 patrol officers in Kotayk Province had been dismissed because their relatives supported Prosperous Armenia or worked for Tsarukyan. Later, Armenia’s Interior Ministry denied Tsarukyan’s statement, saying it did not correspond to reality.
