According to Zhoghovurd daily, Armenian National Assembly ex-speaker Samvel Nikoyan was actively involved in 2013 state budget discussions despite his passive participation in parliament’s fifth convocation meetings.

“Nikoyan was encouraging Central Bank of Armenia deputy president Nerses Yeritsyan, even hinting him about his reply to the opposition. Ex-speaker is the only member of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group that still backs Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan,” the paper says.