Armenian parliament speaker Simonyan marks final session

Armenia's eighth-convened National Assembly held its final session on July 3, formally concluding its parliamentary term.

During the session, lawmakers from the ruling Civil Contract party approved a series of legislative amendments, including changes to parliamentary ethics rules, tougher penalties for voter bribery, and restrictions on the voting rights of Armenian citizens residing abroad, Caliber.Az reports via Armenian media.

Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan thanked lawmakers for their work over the course of the legislature and wished success to fellow Civil Contract member Ruben Rubinyan, who has been nominated by the party as its candidate for the post of parliamentary speaker in the incoming legislature.

Simonyan had previously announced that he would not retain his parliamentary seat in the new convocation, paving the way for a change in the leadership of the National Assembly.

By Sabina Mammadli