Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party MPs today rejected Artur Ghazinyan’s candidacy to the post of deputy chairman of the parliament’s Standing Committee on Defense and Security.

The opposition Hayastan faction has nominated Ghazinyan to the post on six occasions.

Before the vote, Ghazinyan said he answered all eighteen questions posed by MPs.

Addressing Civil Contract MPs, Ghazinyan said they had received an order from their leader, PM Pashinyan, to vote against him.

He said that the government can’t force the opposition to change its candidate.