YEREVAN, MARCH 28, ARMENPRESS. Prior to labeling the directors of schools it is necessary to wait for the assessments of legal bodies, Armen Ashotyan, vice president of the Republican Party of Armenia told reporters, commenting on the information published by the Union of Informed Citizens NGO, according to which directors of schools and kindergartens were engaged in campaigning for the ruling party.

Ashotyan said different state agencies are studying the recordings, including the education and science ministry and law enforcement agencies.

“I would like to urge to wait for the assessments of legal bodies before labeling those people. We have our counterarguments regarding this issue. This NGO, which is registered as an independent observer, targeted the RPA for studies, when from other parties there are people as well who work as directors. Why didn’t they record them as well? It’s not about objectiveness here, this is smear campaign”, the RPA vice president said.

According to Ashotyan, “we like it or not the citizens of Armenia have the right to carry our political activities”, if it’s done outside working hours and working authorities. If this is the case, then there can’t be a discussion on violation here. And list recruitment is normal, all parties do it. According to him, there is no law which can ban citizens from carrying out political activities in some circle.

“I personally listened to dozens of recordings, I can state that there are no assessments of breaking the law in what I’ve heard. In any case the legal bodies will give assessments. Where there is violation the directors must bear responsibility. Regarding the rumors on depriving the RPA from campaigning, I can say there are a lot more serious grounds to deprive the Union of Informed Citizens NGO as an observer”, he said.

Ashotyan urged to refrain from labeling the directors.

“If it turns out that they are innocent, who’s gonna recover their reputation?” Ashotyan said, adding the citizens of our country must be protected regardless what area they are engaged in.

On March 24, the “Union of informed citizens” NGO published a list of directors of 114 schools and kindergartens and the recordings to conversations, stating they are campaigning in favor of the ruling party – RPA.