Ruling Party and Mardumyan Agreed That He Should Leave, Tovmasyan Provides Details

Following the local elections, political repression has evidently started in the communities against all candidates and elected council members who refuse to cooperate with the ruling party, according to Taguhi Tovmasyan, a member of the 'Honorary Duty' faction, during a conversation with journalists at the National Assembly on December 16.

“In all those communities where the ruling party did not gather 50% of the votes, pressure is being exerted on council members. And coincidentally, various criminal cases are being initiated now against council members and potential candidates for mayors after it becomes known that this person is to become a community leader. The latest case is in Vanadzor, where a potential candidate for mayor has been arrested and there is a risk that he will be detained for two months if this situation continues,” Tovmasyan noted.

“I just read that they are preparing to arrest the second person on their list. This indicates that everything is being done to make the votes align with the ruling party. Let’s remember that in Vardenis, the mayoral candidate has been detained, and another candidate’s wife was apprehended overnight; a criminal case has been initiated against her. Thus, it is clear that what this government rejected is being implemented with much worse manifestations,” Tovmasyan added.

Regarding the developments around the mayor of Yerevan, Tovmasyan mentioned that, according to her information, there has been a mediated agreement between the ruling party and Hayk Marutyan that the ruling party would tolerate him until December, after which he must leave. “It seems that something is not right with that agreement, as rumors circulating in the corridors of the National Assembly suggest that this took place between Suren Papikyan and Hayk Marutyan. But apparently, something has been violated, and the ruling party began repressions against the mayor as well,” she stated.

She recalled that Hayk Marutyan was the one who brought the black-and-white idea into politics, adding that it is unacceptable for her that attempts are being made to glorify him now. “The ruling power has a clear goal: those who do not obey, or are not compliant as they envision, must leave. This has become the core of action for the ruling force. Of course, the opposition will express its rejection of the government’s behavior in any way, but I will not wear a t-shirt with Hayk Marutyan’s picture on it,” emphasized the opposition MP.