Yerevan elections are a very important exam, we must get excellent results. Pashinyan

The Yerevan Council of Elders elections are a very important exam for us, and we must pass this exam with flying colours. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan announced this during today’s government session.

Now the government has developed a package of draft laws, with the adoption of which, in particular, it is proposed to criminalize the actions provided for in Article 40.10 of the Civil Code (giving and taking bribes), imposing not only a fine, but also imprisonment for a certain period of time. Along with the criminalization of the mentioned administrative offense, it is proposed to provide an exception in the disposition of the article, according to which the name and (or) symbols of the party or the products containing the name, surname and (or) image of the candidate and with a value not exceeding a certain reasonable amount will not be considered as the object of the crime.

Referring to the importance of the legislative initiative, Nikol Pashinyan said: “I think that we will not advance significantly, but we will go to the point where there is no place to advance, that is, we must exclude such phenomena. The Yerevan Council of Elders elections are, of course, a very important exam for us in this regard, and we must pass this exam with flying colors.”

With the acceptance of the presented package of projects, Prime Minister Pashinyan addressed the Minister of Justice of the RA regarding the above Artak Zeynalyan, noted. “Your wording says that it is forbidden to distribute drams, food, securities, products on free or preferential terms, except for products containing the name or symbol of the party or the name or image of the candidate and the value of which does not exceed three times the minimum salary. Taking into account our “historical” experience, 3000 drams is enough money to distribute, say, lavash or jam or a bag of flour with the party’s symbol, or to put 3000 drams in a bag and distribute it with the party’s symbol. The wording, at least, gives rise to misinterpretation, that limit should be clearly indicated. Let’s not underestimate the creative mind of our election fraudsters, Mr. Zeinalyan. In my opinion, it should be specified specifically: pen, pre-election booklet, cap, T-shirt, etc., because I have read this wording several times, and I see no obstacle to dividing these products according to the same logic.”

In relation to the discussed issue, an exchange of ideas took place, a number of observations were made.

The Prime Minister instructed the Minister of Justice to once again discuss the concerns presented in working order. “The project will be discussed in 2 readings in the National Assembly, in the committee, in the plenary session, and we should do our best to make it clear, not giving rise to re-readings and without ambiguities,” he said. Nikol Pashinyan: