"If They Had Grounds, They Would Have Arrested Me Sooner" - Geghamasar Mayor on Persecution by Authorities

The Armenian government has presented legislative proposals to amend the laws on "Administrative Division of the Republic of Armenia" and "Local Self-Government." At this stage, it is planned to incorporate 441 communities into 37 municipal clusters, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructure Gnel Sanosyan stated during the Government's meeting on September 8.

The National Assembly's Standing Committee on Territorial Administration, Local Self-Government, Agriculture, and Environmental Protection organized parliamentary hearings on September 22 regarding the legislative initiative submitted by the government to amend the law on the administrative division of the Republic of Armenia and related legislative amendments.

It should be noted that this proposal seeks to merge the Geghamasar community in the Gegharkunik province with the Vardenis community, even though Geghamasar was already consolidated in 2017 and includes 18 villages.

The new consolidation project and the government's intention have sparked dissatisfaction among Geghamasar residents, which was expressed by blocking the road on September 16. In two days, Geghamasar community leader Hakob Avetyan has also received an invitation to participate in the parliamentary discussions. In an interview with 168.am, he stated he would attend and deliver a speech.

“The invitation came from both the government and the opposition, but I will represent the 'Armenia' alliance. I will speak about the topic of community consolidation and security issues,” he said.

When asked whether he feared being targeted by the authorities or threatened with criminal charges after his speech, Hakob Avetyan replied: “It is not that there are no persecutions against me at this moment; the persecution is always there, and that doesn't change anything for me. If I find something that must be said, why should I remain silent? If they should persecute me more, arrest me, that is their business, but that does not change anything for me. I am not generally aggressive to say that I am specifically going against them. No, the issue that I find wrong, I also do not have the right not to speak; since 18 villages have elected me, I must always represent them. If I feel that something is bad and could cause damage, I have no right to remain silent... I have always said that if the government does something good, I will feel that it is in the state's interest; I am ready to welcome it and stand by them on that issue. I always support the good and oppose the bad.”

Hakob Avetyan stated that the authorities continue to persecute him with various threats even now, but without grounds. “If they had grounds, they would have arrested me sooner. They say I haven’t collected taxes and are fabricating some criminal charges... I have done well; I haven’t collected taxes. During the war, I wouldn’t morally allow myself to say to those who participate in the war, 'Come on, pay the taxes.' Moreover, I spent millions from my pocket during that time to help various families...”