Armenian speaker says opposition lacks support for no-confidence vote against PM

Armenian Parliament Speaker Alen Simonyan has downplayed the threat posed by opposition efforts to challenge Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, saying the opposition is unable even to gather the necessary signatures to initiate a no-confidence vote.

Speaking to journalists at the parliament, Simonyan specifically dismissed concerns around Masis community head Davit Hambardzumyan, who was sentenced to six years and three months in prison. 

“I will be frank in my response – no,” he said when asked whether Ambartsumyan posed a threat to the government.

Simonyan also criticised the opposition’s record, noting that the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), the former ruling party now represented in parliament through the “I Have Honour” faction, had entered parliament “by force, using money linked to criminal cases.”

The opposition, led by former President Serzh Sargsyan, had previously announced plans to table a no-confidence motion against Pashinyan, nominating Ambartsumyan as a candidate for the premiership as part of the impeachment process.

Ambartsumyan was convicted for his role in using weapons against protesters and organising unrest in 2018.

His cases included an attack on demonstrators at the Ayanist and Ovtashat crossroads, as well as involvement in riots in Yerevan’s Erebuni district.

By Aghakazim Guliyev