Attempts to Undermine Gagik Tsarukyan's Positions in Kotayk Province

The newspaper "Hraparak" reports: "In Kotayk, tensions between the governor and the mayor of Abovyan remain unresolved. Expert circles believe that everything is being done in the region to weaken Gagik Tsarukyan's positions and to remove the city from his influence. Is this the case? We asked Governor Romanos Petrosyan.

He responded, "Legal and state-normative issues are simply being resolved in the province."

There is a viewpoint that the new authorities want their person to take the position of Abovyan's mayor. Should we aim for Vahagn Gevorgyan’s resignation? "First, let us remember that the mayor is an elected body, and secondly, the issue pertains to land funds. There are allowances that have been permitted, nothing more." Is it not true that you stated he is an 'old man,' and should 'old people' not hold positions in Armenia? "I did not say he is an old man; I said he carries an old culture. The mayor of Abovyan, I won’t hesitate to say, is a very decent, very modest, and hardworking figure, but he has marked constraints in managing the city of Abovyan—he is not free in his decisions, he is guided."

It seems the target is still Gagik Tsarukyan. "No, we are not targeting anyone." If Vahagn Gevorgyan wins in the elections scheduled for June, do you understand that if he participates, he will definitely win—you are 'taking hold of the matter' from the outset, what will you do in that case? "I will congratulate him, but all regulatory functions of the governor's office will remain in force, especially regarding land funds, where there are immensely many allowances."

For more details, refer to today's issue of the newspaper.