Former Lawmaker Urges Oligarchs to Leave Parliamentary Work

Principal of the Mkhitar Sebastatsy educational complex and former National Assembly deputy Ashot Bleyan would submit his nomination for the upcoming parliamentary election under the majoritarian system in any unfamiliar electoral district if he wasn’t the principal of the educational complex, he told journalists in the Armenian capital today, advising other potential candidates to nominate themselves without considering who their opponent will be.

“Bring life into these elections — otherwise, the high-ranking places have already been distributed,” he said.

Bleyan mentioned that he’d like to realize his right to free choice at least through these elections and firstly as a voter.

“I would like for elections to end with this voting. I wouldn’t want for elections not to end after the regular voting and for it to be the same post-election situation as it was in 2003, 2007 and particularly in 2008. At the end of the day, elections are a means of overcoming certain stages and political crises, after which society has to move on to its normal life. I want my vote not to be in doubt,” he said.

Every citizen of the Republic of Armenia who has the right to vote must actively participate in the elections, he said, otherwise nothing will change — didn’t they want democratic elections in 2008, he asked.

“As today so too then, there were the same promises and slogans. I don’t think that they tricked me; I think that I was tricked — that is to say, I wanted it; I allowed them to trick me. The reason is that I wasn’t as prudent, consistent in following up, or serious. Having years of experience as a voter, I have to be vigilant,” he said.

According to Bleyan, the National Assembly is an employer and a lawmaker’s work is quite attractive. He asked, does the National Assembly today allow for intelligent, smart, young, nonpartisan, independent individuals to become members of parliament?

“How interesting it would be to see such individuals in 41 electoral districts. Though by law they can, the one-million-dram pledge already restricts their right to be elected. By their getting into parliament, we would have new names and despite their certain preferences, we would have independent deputies. Businessmen today cannot work as lawmakers, which assumes a 24-hour work [schedule]. Don’t be so disrespectful toward the public. Don’t be so cynical,” he stressed, directing his words to lawmakers who own businesses and urging oligarchs to leave their parliamentary work and the National Assembly for those who are better versed in the task.