Armenian deputy speaker takes up political bet

PanARMENIAN.Net - Armenia’s National Assembly Vice Speaker Ruben Rubinyan has responded to a statement by Narek Karapetyan, a member of the Strong Armenia party council, outlining the terms of a proposed bet.

“I accept the bet proposed by the cousin of a Russian oligarch and I wager $1 billion,” he said in a video posted on Facebook.

Rubinyan argued that after the elections, regardless of the outcome, Strong Armenia would not give its vote to Samvel Karapetyan as the next prime minister, but to another individual.

“I saw that the son of the former chief of staff of Serzh Sargsyan, who is also the cousin of a Russian oligarch, publicly stated that anyone can bet that after the elections they will not give their vote to another person, but to Samvel Karapetyan as Armenia’s next prime minister.

I publicly accept the bet. I claim that after the elections, regardless of the results, even if they receive 100% of the vote, they will not support Samvel Karapetyan as the next prime minister, but another person.

I bet $1 billion. The condition is as follows: if they lose, they must immediately transfer $1 billion to Armenia’s state budget, that is, give it to the people. If I lose, they can write anything they want on a blank sheet — if they write ‘commit suicide,’ I will do it,” Rubinyan said.

He added that if the bet is not confirmed within 12 hours, he will conclude that they are “empty talk, like all their statements.”

Narek Karapetyan, during a meeting with citizens in Gavar, had stated: “Our force will give its vote to Samvel Karapetyan as Armenia’s next prime minister. If anyone doubts it, say that Narek Karapetyan is ready to bet — let them name any wager, and you will collect it after winning.”