Finally the governor of Ararat Vardges Hovakimyan resigned. The rumors of his resignation have been circulated for weeks now. Moreover, there were also rumors that he will be replaced by the brother of the NA chair – the former NA MP Jonik Abrahamyan.
Earlier discussions were ripening that Hovakimyan was made to resign his post to appoint Abrahamyan to this post. Yesterday, however, quite unexpectedly it became known that to this post was appointed Deputy Minister of Emergency Situations and Head of the Armenian Rescue Service, former governor of Syunik Edik Barseghyan. Hovakimyan’s resignation will be discussed today at the government session. Moreover, the news of Hovakimyan’s resignation is posted on the government website. According to certain information two days ago he was made to resign as the decision of his resignation is already made within the high circles of the government. The official statement doesn’t bring up the reasons of Hovakimyan’s resignation. The NA MP, spokesman of the RPA Edward Sharmazanov didn’t answer our questions regarding the reasons of Hovakimyan’s resignation either. Neither did the spokes of the Prime Minister Arman Ananyan. Hovakimyan didn’t wish to mention the reasons of his resignation either. “They told me to resign and so I did,” said now the ex-governor by not mentioning, who demanded his resignation. The former governor was an RPA member. He was heading the Ararat branch of the RPA’s regional chapter. To our question whether there is a possibility that he’d deflect from the RPA as well Hovakimyan didn’t give any response. He said that he will speak and answer all the questions after the government session today. There were rumors that the head of the healthcare and social security department of the governor’s office Geghanush Avetisyan also made efforts for Hovakimyan’s resignation. The latter with the help of the regional police recorded words and phrases demeaning Hovakimyan and reached the tape till the Presidential Secretariat. “The Missis on her own recorded information humiliating me, by trying to claim that I am corrupt. But I was the one that personally forbad her to take bribes,” said Hovakimyan. When speaking to us the latter expressed his surprise about the recent developments as he had recently had a working meeting with the RA President Serzh Sargsyan. In his words, Sargsyan didn’t show any discontent to him. There is also an opinion that the chief of police of RA Alik Sargsyan also had his investment in Hovakimyan’s resignation. These two officials have recently had quite tense relations. According to certain information the chief of police has had close relations with Geghanush Avetisyan. In the framework of Hovakimyan’s resignation people are also discussing the version of incident connected with his son. They were speaking that he had beaten someone. But in this case, most probably, the decisive role was played by the internal contradictions within the Republican Party and the upcoming parliamentary elections 2012. It is no secret that within this party the wings of Abrahamyan and Sargsyan are quite outstanding. And most probably Hovakimyan was an official in the influence area of Abrahamyan. So was Alik Sargsyan. But as a result of the recent internal political developments A. Sargsyan changed his orientation. And in this context, according to the media and backstage rumors the NA chair and the chief of police have quite tense relations. Moreover, the chief of police has pretty good relations with the newly appointed governor Edik Barseghyan. Last month the journalists photographed these two officials walking in the Liberty Square. Let us also remember that back in the day the post of the governor of Ararat was occupied by Hovik Abrahamyan and Alik Sargsyan. And now they cannot divide this marz together. Nevertheless, the influence of Abrahamyan in this marz was strong. So was the influence of the Prosperous Armenia. And by dismissing Hovakimyan the government has attempted to reduce this influence. But Abrahamyan was born in that marz. Besides, he has very good relations with many of the residents of the marz. He has property in the marz – land, factories, etc. So regardless of anything this influence will maintain. And the RPA fears that during the upcoming parliamentary elections Abrahamyan will use his strength not on behalf of his party but for the victory of the Prosperous Armenia. And it’s noteworthy that Hovakimyan was asked to resign on the days that Abrahamyan was out of the country. So the RA government is preparing for the upcoming parliamentary race and so the ruling party is trying to have control over the few administrative levers that were outside of its influence.