How Pashinyan Informed Officials About His Decision on Dismissals

The Prime Minister of Armenia, Nikol Pashinyan, informed officials about his decision regarding dismissals via a message on WhatsApp, startling everyone. This was reported by the 'Hraparak' newspaper.

'The former head of the State Revenue Committee, Rustam Badasyan, was out for a stroll when he received the message late at night but hesitated to respond, wondering if it was a prank, drunken outburst, or a phone virus. Instead, he called close friends and gathered them,' the media outlet cited its sources.

According to the newspaper, Badasyan’s friends discussed the shocking message late into the night, trying to figure out how to respond—whether to reply or wait until morning. 'Pashinyan's other 'victim,' former head of the Investigative Committee, Argishti Kyaramyan, also participated in the discussion. Present were Tigran Avinyan, the chairman of the Competition Protection Commission Gegham Gevorgyan, and others. Notably, Rustam Badasyan, Argishti Kyaramyan, and Avinyan are friends,' the newspaper reported.

Some information on the matter was also revealed by the 'Zhoghovurd' newspaper. According to its sources, Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures, Gnel Sanosyan, attended a party with Nikol Pashinyan a day before the incident, but Pashinyan did not personally demand that he submit a resignation letter. Later, Arayik Harutyunyan, the Chief of Staff of the Armenian government, called Sanosyan and informed him that Pashinyan required him to write a voluntary resignation letter and leave quietly.

The media reported that there are rumors that Argishti Kyaramyan may be appointed as the head of the NSS, while Romanos Petrosyan could take the position of the head of the SRC or the Minister of Territorial Administration and Infrastructures. Gnel Sanosyan, a veteran of the ruling Civil Contract party, will also not remain without a position. Karen Andreasian will be replaced as Chairman of the Supreme Judicial Council by Supreme Court judge Arthur Atabekyan, who is a relative of civil contract MP Vahe Ghalumyan. Among the candidates for the head of the SRC are also the head of the internal security department of the SRC, former MP Erjanik Hakobyan, and Deputy Minister of Finance Arman Poghosyan.