Their Number One Plan is to Get Rid of Me and Disband the Community: Geghamasar Mayor

On September 21, a meeting is scheduled between Gegharkunik Governor Karen Sargsyan and Geghamasar Mayor Hakob Avetyan. In an interview with Factinfo, Mayor Hakob Avetyan stated that he has been invited to the National Assembly on September 22, registered by the Armenia Alliance, and is preparing to speak about the reasons for opposing the government's plan to merge Geghamasar and Vardenis. He will also present the consequences of its adoption.

“I am expecting the governor tomorrow. Perhaps the approach will be re-evaluated. The next day, I have been invited to the National Assembly, where something might be taken into account after my speech; if not, we will think about it and find a solution. They have a specific plan to get rid of me and disband the community—that is their number one plan,” he said. If both meetings yield no results, Avetyan indicated that actions cannot be ruled out.

The mayor is confident that the government is ready to take any step to merge the communities, but there are several risks involved. Factinfo previously reported that last week, community residents blocked the Sotk-Vardenis road, demanding the cancellation of the project to merge the communities. After the protest, the governor met with the participants, including the mayor, and promised to visit the community to listen to their objections to the merger of Geghamasar and Vardenis.

“People are disappointed and want to leave. Over the past four years, I have convinced the people; my attitude has been such that many accept my word. For any issue they raise, we work to provide solutions and make plans. People have seen attention over these years, something they have not seen in 30 years. Now, at this moment, they want to change, merge the community, and hope that it could be better. I tell you it will not be. If just 10 families leave from one village, the village is deserted,” he stated.

Avetyan has not received a proposal from the newly appointed governor to write a resignation letter. He is confident that it is a team decision. Avetyan had previously stated that he is ready to resign but only on the condition that the community remains intact and a new leader is elected.

“This community has been formed; it is on the path of solving problems. My position does not interest me; I have so much work that I can't keep up. But they demanded my resignation, and that's why I did not take that step; however, this position has never been a priority for me. Although the residents are against my resignation, I cannot say to the people that I wash my hands of this,” he added.

Avetyan noted that by proposing a merger program, the government was obliged to conduct public hearings, which have not been organized. “If they have decided, no one's opinion matters; they have decided to disband, remove the leader, and the rest does not matter, whether they violate the law or not,” he remarked. He also pointed out that the sounds of enemy gunfire are sometimes heard in the villages of Sotk, Kut, Azat, and Norabak, although they understand that tensions have focused in Syunik.