Hayk Marutyan Appoints His Wife's Friend to a Position

The newspaper "Joghovurd" reports that Yerevan Mayor Hayk Marutyan signed a decision on August 6, relieving Ara Aghayan from the post of director of the community non-commercial organization "Greening and Environmental Protection" effective August 9. Last year, in April, there was significant uproar when he dismissed Armen Begoyan and appointed Ara Aghayan.

Hayk Marutyan has appointed Kristina Vardanyan, the deputy director for the organization's development line, as the acting director of "Greening and Environmental Protection" NGO. At first glance, it seems like a routine appointment, with nothing serious at stake. However, the truth is that Marutyan has violated the law, as Vardanyan is concurrently a member of the Yerevan City Council and is not allowed to hold a position in an organization under Marutyan's jurisdiction. She is required to resign from her council mandate.

Sources from "Joghovurd" report that for a long time, Marutyan has been trying to appoint Kristina Vardanyan to a high position by any means necessary, but since the issue arose that a council member must remain independent, the topic had been set aside. Now, Marutyan has taken such a step.

The situation is further complicated by the fact that Vardanyan is a close friend of Marutyan's wife, which has created pressure for the mayor to secure a position for her at all costs.