Armenian MP expelled over security breach, “immoral behavior”
- 6 December, 10:12
A member of Armenia’s ruling “Civil Contract” party has been expelled over allegedly disclosing state secrets and violating "moral norms".
According to official statement on Tuesday, December 3, MP Hovik Aghazaryan was expelled “due to leaks of confidential information of state and party significance, as well as gross violations of public moral norms". Party officials accused Aghazaryan of providing media outlets with information related to national security. The party did not elaborate on the content of the leaked information.
While denying the charges against him, MP Aghazaryan apologized to his colleagues, “if I caused even minor damage to the team’s reputation.” Acknowledging that he might have said something that “should not have been said,” the MP explained that he did not recall any incident in which he intentionally leaked information. Aghazaryan announced he was leaving the ruling party.
On December 5, Speaker of the Armenian Parliament Alen Simonyan gave more clarification to the charges against Aghazaryan. Simonyan accused the MP of disclosing state secrets shared by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan following his meetings with Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. "The Prime Minister shares information containing state secrets, and he makes it all public. Is this normal?" Simonyan questioned. He added that past leaks had strained relations with Azerbaijan, leading to failed negotiations and heightened tensions.
Simonyan stressed that resigning from a parliamentary mandate would not exempt Aghazaryan of responsibility. "The mandate does not save," he noted, adding that consequences would follow regardless of Aghazaryan's actions. The MP was already facing criminal proceeding over charges of interfering into investigation into his son.
