Friday, April 21 2023 13:50

ArmInfo.A number of non-governmental organizations in Armenia are calling on the RA  National Assembly to urgently form an ethics committee and study the  issue of holding the Speaker of Parliament and other MPs accountable  for inappropriate behavior, up to and including removal from office.

In their statement, the NGOs state that they expect concrete steps in  this direction from the political majority, if it feels at least a  little responsibility for the well-being of RA and its citizens.

"We expect political neutrality and professionalism from law  enforcement agencies and, in particular, the RA Prosecutor's Office,  and a proper response to cases related to criminal offenses," the NGO  group said in a statement.

Representatives of civil society expressed their indignation at  another brawl that took place on April 20 in parliament between MPs  from the ruling Civil Contract faction and opposition forces, adding  that this has already become a commonplace in the National Assembly.

"In a critical geopolitical situation for the state and in the face  of security threats, the focus of public attention is on the hooligan  behavior of the people's "chosen ones" and its impunity," the NGOs  added, noting that the incidents are not investigated, and public  outrage over such behavior remains without due attention, and  parliamentary "chaos" continues.

"On April 20, an incident occurred again in the National Assembly of  the Republic of Armenia with the participation of the ruling "Civil  Contract" faction, Speaker Alen Simonyan and the parliamentary  opposition, Chairperson of the NA Human Rights Committee Taguhi  Tovmasyan, during which security officers were involved, it was  ordered to turn off the broadcast, MPs due to the absence of legal  and political consequences of the previous incident (Alen Simonyan  spat in the face of a citizen - ed. note), this time the RA NA  Speaker threatened to "spit" in the face of the MPs," the NGOs  emphasized, strongly condemning all politicians who turn National  Assembly of the Republic of Armenia in a cheap show.

"Once again we demand from all members of the National Assembly, and  especially from the political majority, to make efforts to condemn  and exclude the irresponsible behavior of members of their own party.  Each memberof the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia must  prove with his her daily behavior and speech that heshe deserves to  be elected by hisher people ", the NGO summed up.

The statement was signed by the Transparency International  Anti-Corruption Center, the Helsinki Association for Human Rights,  the Union of Informed Citizens, the Community Cohesion and Protection  Center, the Public Journalism Club, the Peace Dialogue NGO, the Human  Rights Research Center , Freedom of Information Center, "Protection  of rights without borders", Pink Armenia.