Meghri Mayor on the Visit of the State Oversight Service Head

The Head of the State Oversight Service, Tigran Ulukhanyan, was dispatched to the Syunik region to carry out oversight functions; however, Meghri Mayor Mkhitar Zakaryan sees no issue with this visit. In an interview with ‘Factinfo’, the mayor stated that he did not personally meet with Ulukhanyan, as his deputy coordinated the visit.

It is noteworthy that the heads of all communities in Syunik have called for Prime Minister Pashinyan's resignation, prohibiting him from stepping foot in Syunik against a backdrop of claims that his actions have created a highly dangerous situation in the region. Criminal cases have been initiated against several community leaders. Additionally, the head of the State Oversight Service was specifically sent to Syunik to identify potential new violations.

However, the Meghri mayor responds to the visit positively: “If activities are being carried out, it indicates state oversight; I see nothing extraordinary here. It’s a normal supervisory body, and politics has nothing to do with it. Since the day of their establishment, and even after the formation of a consolidated community, there has not been a single study conducted. It’s normal; I see no negative aspects, at least for now. Once the results are summarized, it will be clearer, but for now, we are seeing an objective, normal study.”

Regarding press reports suggesting that he was internally warned to bypass the Goris-Kapan road and reach Meghri via an alternative route through Tatev due to concerns that Azerbaijanis, potentially with the guidance of Armenian authorities, might stop his vehicle and capture or harm him, Zakaryan stated that this information does not correspond to reality. “That is the result of imagination; it is a misunderstanding. There is no such thing.”

However, the mayor does express concerns about road safety in general: “There is a potential danger. If we pass under the Azerbaijani flag, next to their troops, there is, of course, a danger,” the mayor said.