Vardan Ghukasyan in Gyumri, while Tsarukyan at the National Assembly. Manipulations of News.am

On October 23, the National Assembly discussed the draft Electoral Code. In case of adoption of the bill, extra parliamentary elections scheduled in December 2018 would take place under the new Electoral Code. However, the bill was not adopted because of the absence of quorum. Fifty-six (56) deputies voted for the bill, whereas it was required to have sixty-three (63) votes for the adoption of the bill.

Naira Zohrabyan, the head of the Tsarukyan bloc faction, explained the absence of Gagik Tsarukyan from the assembly hall, noting that he was in the parliament during the vote, but he did not enter the hall because of inappropriate outfit.

As for the absence of MP Vardan Ghukasyan, Naira Zohrabyan explained that the latter was not in Yerevan: “Vardan Ghukasyan, assuming that there would not be voting at half past five, was already in Gyumri and technically it was impossible for him to come to voting”.

A part of the interview with Naira Zohrabyan is published on News.am website, with a headline “Vardan Ghukasyan was not wearing an appropriate outfit. Naira Zohrabyan”.

However, the title does correspond to the reality, and the video was edited. Naira Zohrabyan’s comment on the absence of Gagik Tsarukyan was cut off and added to the comment made on Vardan Ghukasyan’s absence. It was alleged that Vardan Ghukasyan was absent from the session due to an inappropriate outfit, whereas it actually referred to Gagik Tsarukyan.

To compare, we suggest watching the full interview with Naira Zohrabyan where she speaks about the National Assembly and the absence of MPs. News.am video is available here.

Karine Kirakosyan