RPA member says ready to apologize to ex-FM Oskanian

PanARMENIAN.Net - The ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) parliamentary group member Mkrtich Minasyan has voiced readiness to apologize to Prosperous Armenia member, former foreign minister Vartan Oskanian, in case his innocence is proved.

Dwelling on the U.S. envoy’s statement on the case, the MP noted, “One mustn’t be guided by double standards, especially when the issue is legal, which eliminates the need for political assessment.”

The MP further said that pro-Western trends were recorded in Prosperous Armenia’s policy following Oskanian’s joining the party.

U.S. ambassador to Armenia John Heffern issued the following statement regarding the ongoing process against Oskanian:

“I have been asked for the U.S. views on the announcement that Mr. Oskanian has been formally charged. This development, in my view, is bad for justice and democracy in Armenia. As I have said previously, the case appears to represent the selective application of Armenian law. Moreover, the timing of these events in relation to the election schedule is troubling. We urge the Government of Armenia to live up to its commitments to the systematic, fair and transparent implementation of the rule of law.”