One of them, Hovik Aghazarian, triggered the ousters with his rejection of Pashinian’s “request” to resign from the National Assembly which was texted to him on November 17. Unlike him, seven other officials, including Armenia’s top judicial officer, swiftly stepped down after receiving similar text messages on the same day.
In the following weeks, Aghazarian found himself under criminal investigation and had his personal communication controversially accessed by Pashinian and disclosed to other senior Civil Contract figures. The ruling party expelled him from its ranks on December 3, accusing him of leaking “confidential information of state and partisan importance” to media.
The other pro-government parliamentarian, Hakob Aslanian, was ousted after denouncing on December 11 fellow members of Pashinian’s political team for using Aghazarian’s private data for political purposes. Both men, who are close friends, have refused to give up their parliament seats despite coming under strong government pressure.
Aghazarian announced their decision to form a new party, tentatively named the United National Socialist Party, on Sunday. Speaking to RFE/RL’s Armenian Service on Monday, he did not clarify whether it will be in opposition to the current Armenian government. He said only that the party will strive to come to power “if the laws and the constitution don’t prevent that.”
“Our ambitions are as great as what is allowed by the constitution and laws on the activities of political parties,” said the 64-year-old.
Asked about the new party’s differences from Civil Contract, Aghazarian said vaguely that it will favor different methods of combatting corruption.
Aghazarian is suspected of illegal influence peddling in two of the three criminal cases opened against him last month. The third investigation launched by Armenia’s Anti-Corruption Committee (ACC) relates to a possible disclosure of state secrets.
The outspoken lawmaker denies any wrongdoing on all these counts. His lawyer suggested earlier this month that Prosecutor-General Anna Vardapetian will likely ask the parliament for permission to indict and even arrest him.
A founding member of Civil Contract party, Aghazarian actively participated in the 2018 “velvet revolution” that brought Pashinian to power. Aslanian also joined the party before the regime change.
