Sharmazanov reacts to US ambassador’s statement

In an interview with RFE/RL Armenian service, Armenia’s ruling Republican Party (RPA) Spokesman and National Assembly (NA) Deputy Speaker Eduard Sharmazanov reacted to US Ambassador to Armenia John Heffern’s statement issued Wednesday with respect to Vartan Oskanian’s case, and he urged the diplomat to refrain from politicizing the legal matters in the country.
He specifically noted: “I do not share the view in the Honorable Ambassador’s statement that this is a selective application the law. This is a legal matter and it is impermissible to politicize this matter.”
Reflecting on the Ambassador’s assertion that “the timing of these events in relation to the election schedule is troubling,” Sharmazanov said it is far from reality and impermissible to link any legal process in Armenia with elections. “I believe the ambassadors themselves likewise must refrain from politicizing the legal matters in Armenia and linking them to elections. The Armenian authorities’ battle is not against individuals, but against bad phenomena,” the RPA Spokesperson stated.
Eduard Sharmazanov added that politicizing the issue is unjustified and linking Oskanian’s case to the forthcoming presidential elections is far from reality. Also, the NA Deputy Speaker urged everyone not to make political assessments on legal processes.