Armenian MPs' phones confiscated before meeting with PM

Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan's security service confiscates the phones of the ruling Civil Contract party's MPs prior to their meetings with the premier.

Whenever MPs from the ruling faction meet with the PM and hold meetings, his security service officers require them to hand over their phones and smartwatches, Caliber.Az reports, citing Zhokhovurd newspaper.

In all likelihood, according to the publication, Pashinyan does not even trust his team members.

Interestingly, one of the MPs, Hovik Aghazaryan, confirmed this information in his conversation with the newspaper.

"Yes, phones are taken away before the sittings, and smartwatches, too," Aghazaryan said.

According to him, this is done so that the MPs "don't get distracted" and don't enter TikTok․

Additionally, Hraparak newspaper reports that on June 10 Pashinyan and the party leadership attended the wedding of the son of Defence Minister’s Advisor Suren Papikyan - Arshak Ordukhanyan.

Prior to the prime minister's arrival, Security Service officers checked some 900 guests with metal detectors.

The wedding took place at former Republican party MP Ruben Hayrapetyan's Arsanakar restaurant. Ordukhanyan is also the head of the Civil Contract office in Arabkir.

The father of the bride is Vilen Arevshatyan, head of the Financial Department of Yerevan City Hall, who was close to the former mayor Taron Margaryan.