I don’t want to be identified with participants of dignity and honesty parade: Ararat Zurabyan
Ararat Zurabyan, Armenian National Movement (ANM) leader, responds to the question of 168.am.
Mr. Zurabyan, you were among 12 candidates, who took back their withdrawal applications in CEC. Part of those candidates insisted that they didn’t sign any withdrawal application. You didn’t appear with any comment in CEC. What happened in “Tsarukyan” bloc in your case as well?
Together with others I was present, when alongside with other documents with the presence of notary withdrawal application was being formed in “Tsarukyan” bloc. All those present, without any exception, perfectly realizing what they’re signing, have signed the withdrawal applications and made respective notary notes. Withdrawal applications have been made for one purpose—that any candidate for the MP exerted maximum efforts to gain as much votes as possible.
Moreover, candidates nominated by preferential voting system had clear agreement with “Tsarukyan” bloc leadership, by which they assumed responsibility to personally provide certain number of votes. Otherwise, if less votes are gained they were urged to refuse MP mandate and assume the decision of providing mandate to the leadership of “Tsarukyan” bloc.
Frankly speaking, listening to the expressions by some candidates in Central Electoral Commission that they haven’t submitted a withdrawal application, I was very surprised. Slightly said, it was suspicious, as at least I was aware that those persons realize deep in the heart that they sin before truth. For this very reason I didn’t reply to reporters’ questions to analyze the situation and fully comprehend the occurrence.
As for me, I didn’t have any agreement, I didn’t assume any responsibility on gaining certain number of votes. As leader of the Armenian National Movement, I was involved in the list of “Tsarukyan” bloc exclusively as a result of political agreement, and nomination by preferential voting system derived from the mentioned political agreement, not being a precondition for any further development.
As for signing the withdrawal application I initially observed it as a technical document and signed it upon by initiative. After conclusion of election results I refused the mandate of MP. However, as a result of meeting with Gagik Tsarukyan prior to the CEC final session, decision was made that I took back the withdrawal application and gained MP mandate.
Everything can be considered OK if I didn’t meet several candidates in CEC, who having submitted withdrawal applications and having assumed responsibility to gain certain number of votes, perfectly realizing that they didn’t fulfill it, didn’t state that they hadn’t signed the applications. I consider, as Gagik Tsarukyan’s teammates, all the people have violated norms of human decency toward a person, who besides supporting them, is the leader of their political team as well. Compared with them, Gagik Tsarukyan and I are friends of more than 20 years and in the election process we socialized exclusively within the logic of political cooperation.
At the same time, this parade of refusal from withdrawal applications, which had a wider reflection in political circles and media outlets and was properly observed by many as directed process, stirred serious disappointment in me.
Despite everything we deal with man’s word and promise denial, the low and indecent act of exchanging dignity with mandate, by that with the unaccepted fact of defaming MP’s honor. How can people, not capable of keeping any political agreement, man’s word become an MP? People with such low behavior, not peculiar to a man, are not only incapable, but have no moral right to make decisions on country and people’s destiny. Finally, besides political relations there is human correct behavior, those passing limit of which shouldn’t have a place in the parliament.
Thus, not intending to be identified with participants of shaky dignity and sincerity parade, that trivial type of a human, I made a decision to state on refusal of the MP’s mandate at the first NA session. I’m sure, both with my biography and the passed way, I have made a decision equivalent to this situation. At the same time, I wish good luck all dignified members of “Tsarukyan” bloc, headed by Gagik Tsarukyan, in their further political activity.
By Armine Vardanyan
