Armenia still has no independent judiciary despite numerous legislative changes enacted by its successive governments over the past two decades, a member of the country’s Constitutional Court said on Thursday.
Businessman Ruben Hayrapetian faced more street protests on Wednesday despite his decision to resign from the Armenian parliament in response to a public uproar sparked by deadly violence at a restaurant belonging to him.
Bowing to mounting pressure from opposition politicians, civic activists and media, an influential businessman close to the government stepped down as member of Armenia’s parliament late on Tuesday in connection with deadly violence at a Yerevan restaurant owned by him.
The ruling Republican Party (HHK) reacted positively on Wednesday to Western observers’ final report on Armenia’s parliamentary elections, portraying it as further proof that the May 6 vote was the most democratic in the country’s history.
The Armenian tax authorities have started a financial inspection of a think-tank founded by Vartan Oskanian following the controversial launch of criminal proceedings against the former foreign minister critical of the government.
The head of Armenia’s National Security Service (NSS), Gorik Hakobian, on Friday criticized Vartan Oskanian for refusing to give testimony in a controversial criminal investigation which the former foreign minister regards as politically motivated.
In what amounted to a vote of confidence, the Armenian parliament approved on Thursday a five-year program of government actions submitted by Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian’s new cabinet and strongly criticized by the opposition.
Armenia’s newly reshuffled government faced fierce opposition criticism on Wednesday as the National Assembly began debating its five-year policy program that promises faster economic growth and a sizable decrease in poverty.
The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) and the country’s three leading opposition forces made clear on Tuesday that their lawmakers will vote against the new Armenian government’s program submitted to parliament.
The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (HHK) expressed confidence on Friday that its leader, President Serzh Sarkisian, will win the next presidential election due early next year.
The Armenian government flatly denied on Tuesday any political reasons behind the launch of criminal proceedings against former Foreign Minister Vartan Oskanian amid serious concerns about the case voiced by his Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK), the second largest parliamentary force.
The opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) said on Monday that it will continue to hold anti-government rallies in Yerevan despite taking up seats in the country’s new parliament and preparing to actively participate in its work.
The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) is waiting to see the new Armenian government’s program before clarifying whether it is officially in opposition to President Serzh Sarkisian, a top BHK representative said on Thursday.
Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian and three key ministers have been reappointed to Armenia’s new government being formed as a result of last month’s parliamentary elections.
Tigran Sarkisian is likely to be reappointed as prime minister and head Armenia’s new government that will be formed later this month, a leading member of the ruling Republican Party (HHK) said on Friday.
Armenia’s new parliament elected a government-backed speaker on Thursday during its inaugural session attended by President Serzh Sarkisian but boycotted by two of the three opposition groups represented in the National Assembly.
Hovik Abrahamian is almost certain to become the speaker of Armenia’s newly elected parliament more than six months after unexpectedly resigning as chairman of the previous National Assembly.
The Prosperous Armenia Party (BHK) will not necessarily join the opposition despite its decision pull out of the country’s governing coalition, Prime Minister Tigran Sarkisian said over the weekend.
The opposition Armenian National Congress (HAK) welcomed on Thursday the Prosperous Armenia Party’s impending withdrawal from the government, saying it that it will deal a serious blow to President Serzh Sarkisian.
Armenia boycotted a NATO summit in Chicago at the weekend in protest against what it described as the pro-Azerbaijani wording of a declaration adopted by the leaders of the alliance’s 28 member states.
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