WE ARE GOING TO WIN
Lragir.am
09/12/09
Interview By Arman Galoyan
Interview with the member of the Armenian National Congress, the
representative of the candidate at constituency No. 10 Nikol Pashinyan
David Matevosyan
Regardless the problems, after the decision of the administrative
court, they however registered Nikol Pashinyan as a candidate for
parliamentary elections. How would you comment on this decision? Why
did the government yield?
Just from the beginning, the government refused to give a certificate
to Nikol Pashinyan that he has lived the latest 5 years in Armenia.
The government had to dwell on this issue again when we applied to the
administrative court. The decision of the government was influenced
by the thoughtlessness of the formulations of the government as well
as the skillfulness of the presenter of the claim Vahe Hovsepyan and
Lusine Sahakyan, the meetings of the Armenian National Congress with
international representative, as well as the presence of the AGO
group in Armenia on the day of issuing the verdict.
Nikol Pashinyan was registered as a candidate, the lawyer Lusine
Sahakyan presented a petition to change his measure of punishment
but the court refused it and Pashinyan is still deprived of freedom.
They just released a political decision. While, in accordance with
the RA Constitution, the arrest implemented against Nikol Pashinyan
had to be removed when he was appointed as a candidate. Keeping Nikol
Pashinyan under arrest is a violation of the Constitution.
In your opinion, how long are they going to keep him under arrest
violating the Constitution?
Let us remember that there are 15 political prisoners in Armenia now,
one of which is Nikol Pashinyan. Previously, this number was several
times more and each of the prisoners was kept in the prison as long
as the government was able. Now the same is in case of Nikol Pashinyan.
They will keep them under arrest as long as they can.
What are you going to do to release Nikol Pashinyan?
There are ways. One of which is to appeal to the Court of Appeals.
There is another way too. We will apply to the Central Electoral
Commission for its position, and if it gives a document ignoring the
human rights, we will appeal to the Constitutional Court through the
human rights defender.
How are you going to carry out his electoral campaign when he is
in prison?
We have chosen the following strategy. We will carry out the campaign
from house to house, with each voter of the Constituency No. 10. We
will bring them propaganda packages allowing them to get acquainted
with Nikol without meeting him.
At the Constituency No. 10, there is an interesting situation. The
HAK supports Nikol Pashinyan and the government did not put forward
any candidacy and does not support anyone. What are the reasons?
It is early to dwell on this issue. Elections have never been
political processes for the government but only a means to prolong
their activities through money, crimes. I would not like to comment
on the candidates. One of them, Hmayak Hovhannisyan said he is going
to withdraw his candidacy in favor of Nikol Pashinyan. This is a
political stance. I think the government is able to decide which the
candidates to support using its machine of breaches.
Galust Sahakyan said since they are the majority at the National
Assembly, they do not consider expedient to run in these elections.
And the BHK member Aram Safaryan said all the BHK Kentron Candidates
became parliamentarians.
Galust Sahakyan said it just to say something. We have to take into
consideration the fact that just from the beginning the government
decided not to register Nikol. After, they changed their decision and
were obliged to register him. If they decided to register him from
the beginning, I do not know what positions the BHK and RP would have.
Now, a situation when they cannot fulfill what they want is shaped.
In your opinion, what are Nikol’s chances?
We are going to win.