“Gay scandal” in Armenian politics
Messenger.ge, Georgia
Oct 15 2004
According to the newspaper Moskovsky Komsomolets, a ‘gay scandal’
is being kindled in Armenia, and MPs frequently accuse each other of
homosexuality. Accusations of a ‘non-traditional’ sexual orientation
have become the subject of serious arguments. MPs do not know who is
gay and who is not; but this did not stop a special briefing at the
Armenian National Assembly being held on the issue of the presence
of gays in the political elite.
MP from the party “Public MP” Akop Akopian publicly called the deputy
chair of the party “Orinats Erkir” and Head of the Defense and Internal
Affairs Commission Mger Shakhgeldian homosexual, saying that he can
prove this allegation in court if necessary. Shakhgeldian denied the
allegation, however, and promised to speak with Akopian like a man.
Some MPs have announced they are ready to present a full list of gays
in power. MP Armen Avetisian threatened to publish the “blue list”
of Armenian ministers, while Ombudsman Larisa Laverdian entered the
fray in the defense of gays, stating that no one has the right to
abuse a person’s biological status and to use it in his own interests.
Azeri newspaper Ekho.Baku also reports that opposition parties have
promised to publish a list of ministers of ‘non-traditional’ sexual
orientation. The newspaper says it is not always easy to distinguish
between politics and political parody, especially in a country like
Armenia, where there is absolute stagnation in economic and social
development, and the number of political parties exceeds one hundred.
It is hard to understand who is in the majority in the Armenian
parliament.