Vahe Hakobyan is leaving, taking everyone with him: 'Hraparak'

'Hraparak' newspaper reports: 'Vahe Hakobyan has decided to ensure that all party members included in the 'Hayastan' alliance list, who have not yet received their mandates—23 people—resign from their mandates. This list also includes Vahe Hakobyan's relatives, the editor-in-chief of 'Para TV', and other close connections.

Elena Kirakosyan told us yesterday that she is confident that everyone will comply with the party's decision: 'The decision has been made at a broad party level. Individuals who, for various reasons, may wish to take the mandate will, of course, leave the party; however, I do not anticipate such an approach, as we highly value party discipline, and I believe we will not have a problem.'

So, who will replace the three deputies who resign from their mandates? The next candidates from the 'Hayastan' alliance are the dean of the YSU Faculty of Oriental Studies, independent Ruben Melikonyan, ARF member Mher Sahakyan, Maria Petrosyan from the 'Reviving Armenia' party, who is Vahe Hakobyan's wife's sister, independent police colonel Sayat Shirinyan.

Next is Vahe Hakobyan's party mate, human rights defender Robert Hayrapetyan. He told us that it hasn't been his turn yet, but when it is, he will announce his position: 'Right now, it would be foolish to talk about this, because I have not earned that right yet.'

Following him is ARF member Arpine Vardanian, and then independent Arman Ghazaryan. If all predictions come true, the ARF will have 14 deputies in the alliance, half of the 29-member faction.'

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