Preparations Underway in Artsakh for Ruben Vardanian’s Appointment as State Minister

The newspaper "Hraparak" reports that Ruben Vardanian, a businessman who relocated to Artsakh, has been actively meeting with political circles in recent days, laying the groundwork for his potential appointment as the State Minister of Artsakh. This is being done to demonstrate that Vardanian is an acceptable figure for influential stakeholders in Artsakh.

Recently, he met with former presidents Bako Sahakyan and Arkadi Ghukasyan, with whom, as locals report, Vardanian often dines. The fact is that he is considered acceptable by the former leaders as a legal successor to power in Artsakh.

Yesterday, Vardanian met with the Secretary of the Security Council Vitaly Balasanyan, and he visited the office of the Artsakh Armenian Revolutionary Federation the day before. Further meetings are planned in the near future.

Our sources indicate that Vardanian's appointment is expected to occur next week, although they do not rule out the possibility that initially he may be appointed as the chief adviser to the President of Artsakh and subsequently become the State Minister.

During this time, other personnel changes are also anticipated within the Artsakh government. The only certainty is regarding the foreign minister; Davit Babayan, who is currently in the U.S. at the invitation of the Armenian community, will leave his position. If Armenia does not object, it is possible that Araik Harutyunyan will appoint the current State Minister Artak Beglaryan as the new foreign minister.

For more details, see today’s issue of the newspaper.