By Gayane Saribekian
YEREVAN (Azatutyun) — A parliament deputy from Armenia’s ruling Civil Contract party announced his resignation on Tuesday, April 1, two days after appearing drunk in public and insulting a journalist.
Vilen Gabrielyan also took a dig at the party led by Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, saying that it is “in need of very serious healing.”
Gabrielyan swore at Koryun Simonyan of the Euromedia24.com news service and argued with other reporters during a municipal election held in Gyumri. He refused to apologize for his behavior when he visited the Armenian parliament on Monday.
“I consider the incidents, so to speak, with my participation in Gyumri last Sunday to be unbecoming of a deputy of the National Assembly of the Republic of Armenia,” he said in a statement issued the following day. “A deputy of the National Assembly is obliged not to display inappropriate behavior in their mission.”
“Accordingly, I publicly apologize to all of you and officially announce that I am resigning from the National Assembly,” added the 41-year-old lawmaker.
