Former FM says meeting voters with a gun is not a big deal

PanARMENIAN.Net - Leader of the coalition Prosperous Armenia party Gagik Tsarukyan did have a gun in his belt during a meeting with voters in Armenian town of Etchmiadzin on April 13, party member, former foreign minister of Armenia Vartan Oskanian said.

This is not a big deal, Oskanian told the journalists at the 3rd meeting of the anti-forgery headquarters held at the Political Analysts Union.

“Gagik [Tsarukyan] decided to come to the meeting this way. If you have the legal right to carry weapon, you have the right to do so,” Oskanian emphasized.

Judging from the pictures taken at the rally, it is obvious that Tsarukyan had a gun and not allegedly a telephone in his belt, Prosperous Armenia’s member said.

Meanwhile, Armenian law “On Freedom of Rallies” prohibits carrying weapon during mass gatherings.

Parliamentary elections are due in Armenia on May 6 featuring 8 political parties (Republican Party of Armenia (RPA), Prosperous Armenia, ARF Dashnaktsutyun (ARFD), Orinats Yerkir, Heritage, Democratic Party of Armenia (DPA), Communist Party of Armenia and United Armenian party, as well as one election bloc represented by opposition Armenian National Congress (ANC).