Ethics probe launched over Pashinyan’s conduct in parliament

May 23, 2025 - 15:31 AMT

PanARMENIAN.Net - The Corruption Prevention Commission has launched an investigation into a potential breach of conduct rules by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, based on media reports about his recent parliamentary behavior. The announcement was made on Facebook by opposition MP Taguhi Tovmasyan.

The Commission cited specific remarks made by the Prime Minister, including: “Brute”, “Sit down, stop getting on my nerves,” and “I’ll take you all and throw into the NSS basements.”

“I submitted a formal request for an investigation into Nikol Pashinyan’s conduct. Yesterday, the Commission informed me that case No. 07/2025/V/V was opened on May 15, following media reports of the incident,” Tovmasyan wrote.

She emphasized that officials holding positions of high public responsibility must recognize the limits of their speech and behavior, which must remain within the bounds of law and morality.

Tovmasyan argued that Pashinyan’s behavior undermines public trust in government, exacerbates risks of institutional decay, and erodes the foundations of state-citizen relations by disrespecting democratic discourse.

“This is an abuse of power aimed at humiliating opponents and stifling democratic debate. No law allows an official, not even a prime minister, to evade accountability by citing nerves or emotions,” the post stated.

Tovmasyan expressed hope that this case would set a legal precedent and that the Commission’s proceedings would go beyond formality to affirm that constitutional institutions can respond to unacceptable conduct by those in power.

On May 7, during a Q&A session with the government in parliament, tensions rose when several opposition MPs questioned why corruption-related media reports about ruling officials went unaddressed. In response, Pashinyan stated that the press is not a judicial authority and added, “If we follow the media, I’ll have to throw all of you into the NSS basements.” He also told MPs to “sit down and stop irritating me,” and called them “hamabal.”