The passions around the Constitutional Right Union CRU are taking a new stride. As it’s known things came to even arm fight.
Let’s remind that Hrant Khachatryan’s supporters turned to the Court of the First Instance asking to cancel the decisions taken on September 16, 2006, during the 17th conference of the Constitutional Right Union. After the decision of the Court of Appeal Hrant Khachatryan told a news conference on January 31 that their next step will be the solution of moral problems. Nevertheless, he mentioned that “there will be no witch hunt and we will not fight against the mutineers by their own way. Those who were my supporters followed the legal way without trying to intimidate anyone: that is not our method”. Although Hrant Khachatryan does not really trust the work of court bodies; he thinks that the decision of the Court of Appeal proceeded from the idea of justice. According to Hrant Khachatryan, the problems would be solved without any fuss if the members of the party hadn’t been subjected to provocation. He announced that he does not engage in active politics, he will participate in the process of “healing” the party as “the political swamp is swallowing the party: that process must be stopped”. With this aim Hrant Khachatryan is going to organize a new committee and make the final decision whether he or Hayk Babukhanyan will be President of CRU. Although Hrant Khachatryan had resigned from the post, he thinks that he is still legally the president of the party, but he assures that he has no ambitions. Khachatryan is not going to participate in the upcoming elections. A bitter dispute between two rival leaders of one of Armenia’s oldest opposition parties on February 8 flared up into violence that ended only after police intervention. Hrant Khachatryan, the former longtime chairman of the Union for Constitutional Rights (SIM), and dozens of his supporters clashed with members of the rival faction holed up inside the small party’s Yerevan headquarters. They stormed it after law-enforcement officials refused to evict Hayk Babukhanyan, the current SIM chairman, and his associates from the premises. The SIM, which is a member of Armenia’s largest opposition alliance, has been in turmoil ever since a September congress during which Babukhanyan controversially succeeded in unseating Khachatryan. The latter agreed to step down only to denounce the gathering as illegal several weeks later. Citing serious procedural violations, an Armenian appeals court last month invalidated some of the decisions made by congress delegates. One of those decisions related to the election of members of the new CRU board that picked Babukhanyan as party leader. Khachatryan insists that this means he must be reinstated as chairman, a claim strongly denied by his erstwhile comrades-in-arms. Khachatryan managed to enter the party office on February 8 morning with police officers and officials from the Armenian Justice Ministry’s Service for Mandatory Execution of Judicial Acts. They left the premises without providing any explanation an hour later. Angered by their departure, Khachatryan was said to have hit Babukhanyan in the face before dozens of his loyalists tried to break into the SIM headquarters. A special police unit was then rushed to scene to stop the clash. Babukhanyan denounced the assault as an act of “hooliganism” and said he will demand criminal proceedings against Khachatryan and his “thugs.” “I have a right to enter and leave the office which is currently restricted. I will allow nobody to close the doors of the office before journalists and other visitors. It is inadmissible for me to be in the office and not to influence on the decision of the security service made by the illegal presidium”, Hrant Khachatryan complained today. A few hours later the representatives of CEO left the premises without any comment. Then Hrant Khachatryan entered the office to take certain documents from his shelf. Meanwhile Hayk Babukhanyan was trying to prevent him when Hrant Khachatryan slapped him in the face. Hrant Khachatryan left the office without any results promising to inform the journalists about his further steps. After Hrant Khachatryan’s departure, Hayk Babukhanyan told a press conference. He assures that he is the real leader of the party as both the chairman and his deputy were elected by separate ballots and the results of the elections were not appealed in the court. Hayk Baboukhanyan finds Hrant Khachatryan’s behavior illegal and intends to bring an action. In his words, Hrant Khachatryan’s adherents instigating disorder must bear full responsibility for their actions. A protest action was held in the office of Constitutional Right Union. Newspaper “Iravounk” will not be published. The reason, according to CRU President Hayk Babukhanyan, is the threats to the party and the editorial office. “People call us on behalf of Hrant Khachatryan and threaten us. Besides, we know what an attack on the party means. The same people had organized an attack ten days ago which was prevented thanks to our efforts. Our workers are afraid to go home in the evening”, announced Hayk Babukhanyan and added that they have sent the woman workers home as they cannot provide their security. He also mentioned that their bank account has been blocked. The CRU President claimed that the doors of the office will be closed for Hrant Khachatryan. Electing leader of the party by court is unacceptable for Babukhanyan. Nevertheless, Hayk Babukhanyan has a suggestion for Hrant Khachatryan. He offers him to participate in the 18th conference of the party and vote together with the members of the party.