Mysterious Absences of Governors Ahead of the Rally

Various users on the internet, as well as observation missions, are raising alarms about the use of administrative resources ahead of the Yerevan municipal elections. Reports are circulating that employees from various government departments from both Yerevan and the regions will be present at today’s march and campaign of the "Civil Contract" party.

Infocom.am called the working phone numbers of the regional leaders in Armenia starting from 17:25 to determine whether they were at their workplaces. Contact with any of the governors through their work numbers was unsuccessful. Below, we present the responses received from the provincial administrations at specific times:

17:25 - Calls to Gegharkunik Governor Karen Sargsyan and deputy governors Rubik Navoyan and Vahan Zaroyan went unanswered. The chief secretary of the governor's office, Sevak Khkhlghatyan, told us that the governor is on vacation and not present. He also mentioned that the governor had just left: "At this moment, I cannot say whether he is in the government or in the region," Khkhlghatyan said, adding that neither of the deputy governors was present, but were not on vacation, they were on a work trip, according to him, on an official visit in the region.

17:31 - The assistant to the Armavir governor answered that the governor was not present and had gone on vacation for two weeks starting today.

17:36 - The Kotayk regional administration reported that the governor was not present and they did not know if he would return to work today.

17:38 - An employee at the Lori governor's office answered the work phone saying that the governor was not present, and he did not know where he was or when he would return. He mentioned that "he is probably on a mission," but he was not sure where. The employee requested to try again before the end of the workday, as perhaps the governor would have returned, but at 17:52 the governor was still not there.

17:40 - The work phone for Syunik Governor Robert Ghukasyan was answered by a receptionist. When asked if we could speak with Mr. Ghukasyan, the receptionist responded that the governor was in a meeting, and it was unknown when he would finish. He provided the assistant's number. However, Ghukasyan's assistant, Margarita, informed us that the governor was in Yerevan today and would return to the region tomorrow. When asked if the governor was on a mission, the assistant replied, "No," and when we asked if he was in Yerevan for personal matters, the assistant confirmed positively.

17:45 - The working phone of Shirak Governor Mushegh Muradyan was answered by an employee. He said that Muradyan was in a meeting, had stepped out, and was not present. He emphasized that the workday ends in ten minutes, so it would not be possible to speak with him today. The employee provided the number for Governor's assistant Angela, noting that she also could not answer at that time. When asked if we could speak with the deputy governors, the employee replied that Anna Martikyan was out of the country, and the other deputy, Albert Ayvazyan, was with "them" (referring to the governor). When asked if he was with the governor, the employee confirmed. When asked if the meeting was in the region, the employee said he could not answer beyond that and expressed doubt that the caller was the person they claimed to be (the caller had stated their real name and mentioned the media outlet - infocom.am - at the beginning of the call).

Governor's assistant Angela answered the call at 17:50. She said that she was not with the governor and we could address our questions to her. When asked if the governor was in the region, Angela replied that she was unaware and could not provide the governor's personal phone number. As there were noises of people chatting in the background of our conversation, we inquired whether she was at her workplace; she responded that she was outdoors. When asked if she was outdoors in Yerevan, the assistant replied no and mentioned she would be going up to the office shortly.

17:48 - An employee at the Tavush governor's office reported that the governor was not present and could not say if he would return today, as he was on a work trip in the region and had "just left".

17:31, 17:55 - Calls to the Ararat governor's work phone went unanswered.

17:36, 17:57 - Calls to the Aragatsotn governor's work phone also went unanswered.