Spokesperson for Prosperous Armenia Party issues statement following  Nikol Pashinyan`s recent remarks

ArmInfo.Iveta Tonoyan, the spokesperson for the Prosperous Armenia Party, issued a statement regarding RA Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's latest claims.

Tonoyan recalled that the previous day,  party Chairman Gagik  Tsarukyan, during a meeting with voters, stated that a large number  of patrol police officers in the Kotayk region had been fired because  their family members are supporters of the Prosperous Armenia Party.  Shortly after Tsarukyan's remarks, the Ministry of Internal Affairs  (MIA) issued a hasty denial, refuting the claim that any officers had  been fired for political reasons. However, according to Tonoyan, the  Prime Minister effectively contradicted the MIA's denial during his  own public appearance today. Tonoyan noted that Pashinyan essentially  confirmed Tsarukyan's statement by declaring that any officers with  such political affiliations should be dismissed if they haven't been  already.

Tonoyan argued that the Prime Minister's stance creates a dangerous  precedent where any citizen with a relative or neighbor in the state  system is barred from supporting the opposition. "It appears that if  you have a relative or acquaintance working in law enforcement or the  civil service, you are no longer permitted to sympathize with any  political force. By the direct order of Nikol Pashinyan, they will be  fired. In reality, this is exactly what is happening," Tonoyan  stated.

Responding to Pashinyan's assertion that he does not fill positions  with his own "inner circle," Tonoyan offered a detailed list to  "refresh his memory" regarding high-level appointments:  Vahe  Ghazaryan: A former classmate and, until recently, the Minister of  Internal Affairs.  Hayk Ghalumyan: The Prime Minister's godfather,  currently serving as the Governor of the Tavush Province.  Hrachya  Hakobyan: The Prime Minister's brother-in-law, now serving his second  term as a Member of Parliament.  Vahagn Hovakimyan: A former  journalist for the Pashinyan-owned Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper, now  heading the Central Electoral Commission (CEC).  Sipan Pashinyan: The  Prime Minister's nephew, a former Member of the National Assembly.   Hakob Simidyan: The former Minister of Environment, whom Tonoyan  identified as the individual who sheltered Pashinyan while he was a  fugitive.

Concluding her statement, Tonoyan accused the Prime Minister of  consolidating absolute power and circumventing the separation of  powers. She sarcastically noted that Pashinyan has personally  appointed himself to several "unofficial" roles: Nikol Pashinyan as  Prosecutor General; Nikol Pashinyan as Chief of Police; Nikol  Pashinyan as Director of the National Security Service (NSS) and  Nikol Pashinyan as Judge "handing down verdicts every single day of  this election campaign."