The biggest Miasnutyun faction of the Armenian parliament, split between two increasingly rival parties, will discuss on Friday who should represent it in the newly formed parliamentary commission charged with overseeing the official inquiry into the October 1999 assassinations. Leaders of the People's (HZhK) and Republican (HHK) parties will again put to the test the unity of their shaky alliance when they try to agree on the distribution of three commission seats reserved for Miasnutyun.
The HZhK, the main initiator of the parliamentary oversight, demands that at least two of its deputies become commission members. The Republicans, who only reluctantly backed the idea, control more seats in the National Assembly and it remains to be seen if they will agree to being outnumbered by the HZhK.
The two parties are deeply divided over the authorities' handling of the parliament shootings case, with the HZhK suspecting unnamed governing circles of trying to drag out the trial of 12 men prosecuted in connection with the killings. The HHK and its leader, Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, have dismissed the concerns and will strive to prevent the commission from submitting a negative report on the government's role in the probe.
Republican leaders declined to comment on the stance their party will take on the Miasnutyun quota in the 12-member commission. Failure to reach agreement with the HZhK on its composition would deal another blow to Miasnutyun, which has been on the brink of collapse several times over the past year.
Ruzanna Khachatrian
The HZhK, the main initiator of the parliamentary oversight, demands that at least two of its deputies become commission members. The Republicans, who only reluctantly backed the idea, control more seats in the National Assembly and it remains to be seen if they will agree to being outnumbered by the HZhK.
The two parties are deeply divided over the authorities' handling of the parliament shootings case, with the HZhK suspecting unnamed governing circles of trying to drag out the trial of 12 men prosecuted in connection with the killings. The HHK and its leader, Prime Minister Andranik Markarian, have dismissed the concerns and will strive to prevent the commission from submitting a negative report on the government's role in the probe.
Republican leaders declined to comment on the stance their party will take on the Miasnutyun quota in the 12-member commission. Failure to reach agreement with the HZhK on its composition would deal another blow to Miasnutyun, which has been on the brink of collapse several times over the past year.
Ruzanna Khachatrian