Military Police Division Head Under Scrutiny: Will A. Kocharyan Intervene?

According to the "Zhoghovurd" newspaper, significant developments around the Military Police are ongoing. Our information indicates that long-serving military police chiefs are seeking allies within the current government to secure their positions, which has led to a wave of discontent among Military Police employees.

It is no secret that Alexander Aghajanyan, who was appointed as the acting head of the Military Police on February 21, 2020, summoned officials who maintain friendly or collegial ties with the former authorities and warned them that if they did not perform normally, they should submit resignation letters.

Moreover, some Military Police employees subsequently reached out to their acquaintances in the government for assistance in restraining Alexander Aghajanyan or ensuring they would not be dismissed from their jobs.

One of those employees is Ashot Zakaryan, the head of the Military Police in Vanadzor, who is also considered a long-serving official. Reports indicate that Ashot Zakaryan, who was the head of the Military Police in Yerevan, obstructed the integration of peacekeeping forces with participants of revolutionary demonstrations.

Since the newly appointed head of the Military Police, Alexander Aghajanyan, has decided to cleanse the system of previous officials, Zakaryan is also seeking friends within the government to avoid dismissal from his post. According to rumors circulating within the Military Police, the Military Police chief in Vanadzor has found an ally in the form of Andranik Kocharyan, a member of parliament from the “My Step” faction.

We spoke with Ashot Zakaryan, the head of the Military Police Division, regarding the current situation. He confirmed that he and Andranik Kocharyan are longtime friends, but assured that this connection has no bearing on his employment status. “The personnel of the Military Police have no internal issues, and everyone is focused on fulfilling their job responsibilities,” he stated.

When asked if the acting head of the Military Police had discussed resignation with him, he replied, “I believe such discussions have not occurred with me or anyone else with that emphasis. Moreover, I cannot comment on this; if anyone is interested in my biography, they should go back and see the path I have traveled.”

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