Yerevan Mayor, member of the Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Taron Margaryan has resigned, local media reported with reference to sources in the Yerevan municipality.
Margaryan's first deputy, Kamo Areyan was appointed the acting mayor.
Protesters demanding the resignation of Margaryan have started in Yerevan in May. The protesters accused the mayor of inefficient activity and lack of accountability.
Armenian Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, in turn, said he finds it wrong to demand all and everybody to resign at once.
Member of the Tsarukyan's Bloc faction, Naira Zohrabyan, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that Margaryan's resignation was inevitable. "I think it was necessary. Taron Margaryan represents the Republican Party, and now, when the RPA's command resigned from the government, Taron Margaryan made the right choice, leaving the Yerevan municipality," she said.
"As for the future of Yerevan, there are still a lot of unresolved problems in the city yet. It is unclear whether a new mayor will be appointed from the deputies of the city duma or there will be new elections. The Prosperous Armenia party, of course, will participate in the possible mayor elections," Naira Zohrabyan stressed.
The director of the Armenian branch of the CIS Institute, Alexander Makarov, "there were attempts to demand the departure of Margaryan, he successfully survived them, but it is not clear how long he could be in office, especially as rumors have increased that he will not resign, and the city administration has no other legitimate ways of changing power," he drew attention.
"Two months ago, Nikol Pashinyan became the Prime Minister of Armenia. But it doesn't mean that this time was enough to correct the situation at the city level. The Taron Margaryan issue is in the air, but so far Pashinyan's team had more priority problems that need to be addressed, even taking into account the fact that the issue of Yerevan is very important," Alexander Markarov added.
Margaryan's predecessor, Ex-mayor of Yerevan Vahagn Khachatryan, speaking with the correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza earlier, noted that the retired mayor had no chance of remaining in office. "He was part of Serzh Sargsyan's team and therefore should not remain in power for long after the revolution, since the people have no trust in these officials. The previous system of governing the country, including in Yerevan, was built on the implementation of a large set of corruption schemes, but now everyone, including Margaryan, had to start working in a different way," he said in the first place.
"In fact, his resignation was inevitable, as well as the resignation of all Sargsyan's people in Armenia, and those remaining in office, will also have to leave. Perhaps, Margaryan's departure should have happened a month ago. The last straw was, probably, the publication of a video about his property. Of course, everyone knew for a long time that he builds houses at his city expense, but this short video shocked the society and Yerevan residents. Apparently it has made it impossible for Margaryan to remain in office," Vahagn Khachatryan said.
"Speaking of the memory that Taron Margaryan will leave behind, the most powerful impressions are the last ones. He will be remembered as one of those who was part of the corruption system and robbed the people for many years in power," the former mayor of Yerevan concluded.
