Robert Kocharyan’s people leave government – expert

High-ranking dismissals have stirred up Armenia and other states. Information on resignations of functionaries was introduced by newspapers, which is a notable fact.


Armenian Parliamentary Speaker Ovik Abramyan had resigned on Tuesday. He will head the electoral headquarters of the Republican Party for the parliamentary polls of 2012. Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan dismissed Police Chief Alik Sarkisyan and replaced him with Deputy Defense Minister Vladimir Gasparyan.


Yerevan Mayor Karen Karapetyan resigned on October 28. Vice-Mayor Taron Markaryan, son of the former Prime Minister Andranik Markaryan, who had died in 2007, was offered to become the mayor.


Media reported about resignation of Armen Gevorkyan, Vice-Premier and Minister for Territorial Administration. He is to be replaced by former Yerevan Mayor Gagik Beglaryan, who had left the position on December 8, 2010, after a conflict with a member of the presidential protocol service Aram Kandayan.


David Petrosyan, political observer of the information-analytical holding Noyan Tapan, gave an interview to Vestnik Kavkaza. He says that the resignations demonstrate a struggle between different groups within the ruling Republican Party of Armenia, headed by Ovik Abramyan. He lost the struggle. He is rumoured to be planning to take part in the polls of May 2012 as member of Prosperous Armenia. Candidature for the position of the speaker of the National Assembly (Parliament) has not been discussed yet, David Arutyunyan, Chairman of the Commission for State-Legal Affairs of the Parliament, said today.
Arutyunyan is considered one of the most likely replacers for Speaker Ovik Abraamyan.


David Petrosyan says that the reshuffle is a result of electoral processes. People connected with former President Robert Kocharyan are being removed. Prime Minister Tigran Sargsyan has very strong positions, the expert believes. He may lead the list of the Republican Party at the elections, Petrosyan told Vestnik Kavkaza.