Mirzoyan Hopes Gorgisyan Will Testify in Colonel Assault Case

The situation in the National Assembly is tense as discussions are underway regarding the powers of regional governors, the criteria for their appointment and dismissal, and other regulatory issues. The draft law is presented by Vache Terteryan, Deputy Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures of Armenia.

“According to the draft, to be appointed as a regional governor, it is necessary to have resided in Armenia for the past four years and to be an Armenian citizen. In addition, the procedures for the dismissal of governors have been clarified, and a governor will be dismissed if they resign, have their Armenian citizenship revoked, acquired citizenship of another country, or if the government accepts the Prime Minister's proposal to dismiss the governor, among other reasons,” he stated.

Armen Yeghiazaryan, a member of the “Bright Armenia” party, pointed out that there has historically been a problematic institution of governors that continues in the same spirit. According to him, studying the activity of regional governors and talking with village mayors has led him to believe that governors act as directors towards the mayors.

Gevorg Gorgisyan, a member of the “Bright Armenia” faction, added that during the previous government, governors turned into feudal lords, while village mayors became subordinates. “I expected this issue to be resolved, yet we still have governors operating in the same style: we have governors interfering in elections, beating soldiers. I want to know if the proposed law addresses these issues,” Gorgisyan asked.

In response, Terteryan stated that the negative phenomena mentioned by Gorgisyan are not due to legislative regulations, as governors do not have any legal right to interfere in elections.

National Assembly President Ararat Mirzoyan also responded to Gorgisyan’s assessment, stating that he speaks so confidently about governors who beat soldiers, that if he didn’t have very specific information, he wouldn’t make such claims. “Mr. Gorgisyan, I hope that you will be able to assist in uncovering the case with your testimonies in the investigative bodies,” he said.

For reference, an incident involving military personnel and regional governmental employees took place in the city of Yeghegnadzor, Vayots Dzor, on the night of September 18. According to media reports, the main perpetrator of the brawl was the governor's assistant, Harutyun Grigoryan, who seriously injured Lieutenant Colonel Ara Mkrtchyan. The Prosecutor's Office had previously stated that the governor's assistant has been detained.