According to “Panorama.am” Michael Vardanyan, member of the Armenian Revolutionary Federation (Dashnakcutiun) and son of Hrant Vardanyan, chairman of Grand Holding, has changed the decision to run on proportional list of Dashnakcutiun for the elections. He shifted to the majority list from Armenian Republican Party (RPA).
Earlier reports in the press say Vardanyan is going to combat elections at community center 40 (Noyemeberyan region). In his interview Vahram Brutyan, advertisement department head of Grand Tobacco said, “This issue is under consideration now. Community center 40 is under question. The media must have heard somewhere about it and provides the information as fact,” Brutyan said. Asked why Vardanyan decided to nominate himself on majority list and not proportional list of Dashnakcutiun, Brutyan said, “You will see that cooperation with Dashnakcutiun will continue. Many representatives of Grand Holding will be included in the proportional list of Dashnakcutiun. This is not a final decision. However, Vardanyan will run only on majority list,” Brutyan said. According to rumors last fall Defense Minister Serzh Sargsyan was accompanied by Michael Vardanyan to Noyemeberyan and urged 40 community heads to elect son Vardanyan on majority list promising that Vardanyan family will make investment in the region. In fact, Serzh Sargsyan sponsors the entry of Michael Vardanyan into the new parliament and it is not a surprise that he will appear in RPA list. “Naturally, Noyemeberyan is a borderline area and is important for the defense minister,” Brutyan said.
“In fact Sargsyan supports the entry of Vardanyan to the NA and it won’t be unexpected if the former ARF deputy may appear in the proportional list of the RPA,” mentions Panorama. However Brutyan has a different opinion about this issue saying that as Noyemberyan is a borderline area it has a special importance for the Defense Minister. He is sure that if Vardanyan is elected in the mentioned region everything will be alright.