Armenia’s National Assembly President Galoust Sahakyan rejected a suggestion by HAK (Armenian National Congress) MP Levon Zourabyan that the current session be televised live given that the main topic of discussion was the framing of a new constitution.

Sahakyan said that doing so would cost too much money and that he didn’t see the need anyway.

Zurabyan countered by telling Sahakyan that his rejection once again proved that those in power fear hearing the opinion of the people. The HAK MP added that by rejecting live coverage of the debate the regime wanted to cover-up what actually was going on behind the scenes.

Another opposition MP, Zarouhie Postanjyan from the Heritage Party, took the floor and said that President Sargsyan’s attorneys were in the room to lengthen his term of authority.

She added that the issue to be discussed wasn’t constitutional modifications but the impeachment of President Sargsyan.

 Parliament Vice-President Edward Sharmazanov countered that Postanjyan comments were off base and instructed that her microphone be turned off.

HAK MP Aram Manoukyan stated that his party’s proposal regarding live coverage should be directed at Armenian Public Radio and TV, given that coverage by one private commercial station wouldn’t be sufficient for the entire country.

Manoukyan added that instead of spending money on repairing ridiculous fountains and installing traffic cameras, the government could have used the money to inform the public.