VIDEO: Avinyan: Petrosyan's Statement on Corruption Was News to Me

I have spoken with the former head of the Cadastre Committee, Sarhat Petrosyan, before he submitted his resignation, and he presented his views and issues he had with the former head of the Urban Development Committee, who is my advisor, as well as with the current head of the Urban Development Committee. This was stated by Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan during a conversation with reporters today, October 21.

“Overall, I find the logic unacceptable, because it is the same as if the Minister of Health resigned because he disagrees with the policy of the Minister of Labor and Social Affairs,” he noted.

Avinyan also remarked that regarding the statement that his position did not allow him to engage in specific activities in the field of urban development, it suggests that Sarhat Petrosyan was somewhat disappointed with that issue. “As for his statements about clan-based governance and corruption, I would ask Mr. Petrosyan to provide clarification, because this was news to me as well,” he added.

In response to the comment that his name was also mentioned in Sarhat Petrosyan's statement, Tigran Avinyan said, “My name in the statement is mentioned in the context that the former head of the Urban Development Committee is my advisor, and regarding Mr. Petrosyan's observation that there is regression in this area, I believe that as he is no longer the head of the Urban Development Committee, it would be difficult for him to be familiar with the existing issues in the urban development sector. It is unlikely that leading a related sector allows one to be acquainted with all the problems.”

When asked if he sees any share of the blame, Avinyan noted that he cannot comment, however, the statement itself was perplexing to him as well.

Avinyan mentioned that he rated Sarhat Petrosyan's work quite positively. According to the Deputy Prime Minister, the issue of appointing Sarhat Petrosyan to another position is not being considered.

Recall that on October 18, the head of the Cadastre Committee submitted his resignation to Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan, stating as the main reason that he does not share the government’s policies and the existing approaches in the field of urban development.