Pro-government lawmaker Hovik Aghazaryan asserted on Wednesday that Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan is not pressuring him to resign from parliament, despite the recent forced resignations of six high-ranking officials.
Among those ousted was Argishti Kyaramyan, head of the Investigative Committee, who had a public confrontation with Aghazaryan during a parliamentary session last month. The dispute escalated when Aghazaryan accused the Investigative Committee of intimidating citizens through unwarranted arrests or threats. The heated exchange saw the two men trading insults and nearly engaging in a physical altercation, prompting criticism of Kyaramyan’s conduct from other lawmakers in the ruling Civil Contract party.
Narek Zeynalyan, another Civil Contract deputy, resigned from the National Assembly on Tuesday following the incident. Media reports allege that Pashinyan issued resignation orders via text messages not only to the six dismissed officials but also to Zeynalyan and Aghazaryan. However, Aghazaryan refuted these claims, insisting he has not received any directive to step down.
“Within our team, I’m a beloved and respected deputy,” Aghazaryan told reporters. “If I do something wrong, my younger colleagues can easily reprimand me. I accept and immediately take all that into account.”
The governing board of Civil Contract, chaired by Pashinyan, reportedly discussed Aghazaryan’s behavior during the clash with Kyaramyan at a meeting on Tuesday evening. Board members also sought clarification regarding Kyaramyan’s claims that intermediaries had twice approached him to halt criminal proceedings involving Aghazaryan’s son. The outcome of the party’s internal disciplinary proceedings remains undisclosed.
Meanwhile, Aghazaryan was questioned on Monday by the Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) as part of an investigation into alleged illegal influence peddling tied to Armenian businessmen exporting livestock to the UAE.
Known for his outspoken and flamboyant remarks, Aghazaryan drew public attention in July when he admitted needing his parliamentary salary to pay off a mortgage for a new apartment. Addressing this on Wednesday, the 64-year-old defended his statement: “Apart from being a great patriot and statesman, I also think about myself a little.”
Despite the controversies, Aghazaryan vowed not to shy away from criticizing officials, even if it jeopardizes his position in parliament. “I will not keep a low profile just to secure my seat or my income,” he declared.
