MP Ruben Hayrapetyan Would Prefer Not to be Elected, But It’s His Party’s Wish

Football Federation of Armenia President and Republican Party of Armenia MP Ruben Hayrapetyan, meeting with journalists in the capital today, confirmed that he will be running in the upcoming parliamentary election on the party-list ticket — in which electoral district he’ll be nominated is still unknown, he added.

A journalist, reminding him that months ago Hayrapetyan had declared that parliament is “not his place,” asked why the change of heart?

“I didn’t decide, the party did, that I would run in the elections on the majority system. Yes, I wouldn’t want to be elected, but I’m not an independent person — I clearly fulfill my party’s decision. My party needs me and I need it,” he said.

Weighing in on the oft-remarked fact that he is frequently absent from parliamentary meetings, Hayrapetyan pointed out that he fulfills his legislative obligations outside of parliament quite well too.

Another journalist, recalling that Hayrapetyan’s colleague Samvel Aleksanyan said that his wife will be responsible for his business, asked whether Hayrapetyan will continue running his own business alongside his parliamentary duties. The deputy said that it’s been his son who has long been running his business.