Pedro Zarokyan on Being Stripped of His Mandate: "Hraparak"

The Yerevan City Council's "Civil Contract" faction intends to initiate the process of stripping the mandate from Pedro Zarokyan, a member of the opposition "National Progress" faction, and a Diaspora Armenian. The issue is currently on the agenda of the Civil Contract party. It is difficult to determine the grounds for stripping Zarokyan of his mandate, considering he has consistently attended city hall meetings, as mandates have only been revoked based on absences in the past. On the other hand, it is not difficult for the ruling Civil Contract party to rid themselves of inconvenient opponents who speak out sharply using outdated justifications and questionable methods. This was reported by the newspaper "Hraparak."

Moreover, this attitude stems from a heated debate that erupted between opposing city council members and the ruling party during the last council meeting. Opposition council member Pedro Zarokyan questioned Mayor Tigran Avinyan regarding the misappropriations of the Armenian National Interests Fund (ANIF), while simultaneously criticizing the deplorable conditions prevailing in Yerevan's schools. Zarokyan noted that rumors circulated regarding Avinyan hiring security personnel at a building that already had security services. “It’s disgraceful, at least fill the potholes on the school routes,” he exclaimed, asserting that it seems the embezzled funds are being "divided among themselves" within the Civil Contract party.

Mayor Tigran Avinyan reacted harshly and reprimanded Zarokyan. The ruling party members then turned against Zarokyan, forming a living shield for Avinyan, and unleashed a barrage of insults and slurs at the meeting.

In a conversation with the newspaper, Pedro Zarokyan commented on the intent to strip him of his mandate, stating that they wish to suppress freedom of speech: “What other grounds could there be? I have attended all the sessions and committee meetings. I don’t know on what basis they want to remove me,” he said. He mentioned that no one approached him after the council meeting to speak with him: “If they don’t strip me of my mandate, I will continue to speak out sharply because I will utilize my freedom of speech to the fullest. I will put them in their place; the thieves and robbers must leave here, either I will leave or Avinyan will. I must use my freedom of speech until the end; he has no right to be mayor; a thief has no right.” He further criticized Vice Mayor Pambukhchyan, alleging his father received a $4 million loan, claiming he is a retired person backed by "Spayka." “They said ‘Spayka’ was associated with Mishik, now with Mishik gone, they have become partners in ‘Spayka.’ Thus, they have joined Mishik and, as a result, Mishik’s voice is no longer heard. The other thieves were removed, and now they have become thieves themselves.”

Zarokyan asserts he fears neither the past nor present figures of authority in critique, stating he understands the experience of other countries, noting that normalcy does not exist here: “A country run by thieves and robbers cannot be normal; they rob and build a nation based on corruption.”

For further details, refer to the original source.