National Platform of Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum Coordinator blames Venice Commission President for being guided by biased approaches

President of the Venice Commission Gianni Buquicchio has issued another statement on the events surrounding the Constitutional Court and calls on the parties to show restraint, and this statement has been the topic of discussions in the Armenian domain of Facebook since last evening.

Coordinator of the National Platform of the Eastern Partnership Civil Society Forum, President of Europe in Law Association NGO, lawyer Lusine Hakobyan (wife of representative of Europe in Law Association NGO, lawyer Tigran Yegoryan) particularly said the following in regard to Facebook user Arman Gharibyan’s comment in one of the comments posted during one of the discussions on Buquicchio’s statement. Arman Gharibyan stated that “we Armenians are not doing a good job, a part of civil society is guided by biased approaches, there is no strong political opposition, the media is either pro-government or curses at the government, and there are very few exceptions”:

“What makes Buquicchio different from what was listed in the statement? He has established close ties with Davit, Arpine & Co and is also guided by biased approaches. The delegations of the Venice Commission have always held formal meetings with NGOs in order to add checkmarks to their lists,” Hakobyan said.

168.am asked former head of the Armenian parliamentary delegation to the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) Arpine Hovhannisyan to comment on Lusine Hakobyan’s statement.

“For me, these comments are nonsensical and ridiculous. Let me explain why. Yes, I have had a great collaboration with the Venice Commission. Yes, I presented the Armenia’s concerns and problems properly when I was collaborating with the Commission as justice minister. What’s more, these authorities have an appointed representative who is loyal to them. What’s more, if I’m not mistaken, one of the members of the parliamentary delegation to the PACE was appointed representative to the Venice Commission after being selected through group quota,” Arpine Hovhannisyan said.

According to her, taking all this into consideration, the authorities have no problem with expressing their viewpoints for the Council of Europe, the Venice Commission, the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe and other relevant and competent authorities.

“As for the extent to which the authorities’ arguments are convincing for these organizations, that is a different story,” the ex-justice minister noted.

When asked if it is possible that, say, Gianni Buquicchio has joined the Republican Party of Armenia, Arpine Hovhannisyan said the following:

“I have not seen the lists of members of the political party, but I believe the Republican Party of Armenia would announce the membership of any European official, especially an official representing the Venice Commission. In reality, I would like to ask you to accept the response to this question as a joke, but I believe all this is becoming tragic, not amusing.”

According to the former parliamentary speaker, she does not understand what the authorities are busy doing when there is a problem that has to be solved.

“They do not understand that they actually have a problem to solve, and it is a problem that lies in their actions, behavior and unlawful conduct. Instead of solving the problem, they are trying to understand who can transmit information to them,” Arpine Hovhannisyan concluded.