Tensions Rise Between Araik Harutyunyan and Masis Mayilian Amid Power Struggle for Nikol

The newspaper "Haykakan Zhamanak" reports that Masis Mayilian is involved in significant trips abroad, moving from the United States to Russia, with these visits being well-managed PR efforts by him and his team. The American trip was organized by outside political allies to coincide with the House of Representatives' resolution recognizing the Armenian Genocide, which provided excellent publicity against the backdrop of photos of senators.

As a result, tensions between Araik Harutyunyan and Masis Mayilian have escalated; a fierce competition is underway between them regarding who is Nikol's protégé. However, Masis is said to hold barely 10 percent of the votes, and protecting him is seen as unpromising, a realization that is creeping into Yerevan.

Both sides are already employing kompromat against each other; for instance, efforts are being made to connect Araik Harutyunyan with previous governments. Still, "Araik is wary of the old guard, keeping his distance from Serzh Sargsyan. In interviews, he praises Nikol, asserting he is a great leader who is developing the economy," said our source from Artsakh.

Masis’s team is banking on Nikol's skepticism, hoping that he will not consider Araik one of his own.

Who is working for Mayilian? "His former advisor Hrach Arzumanyan, Gegham Baghdasaryan from the Stepanakert Press Club, and his new party, 'Tomorrow's Artsakh.' The main argument is that Masis is a new face, unconnected to the past, a true reformist, in contrast to Araik," they argue.

But isn't Masis a former minister in the cabinet of 'former' Bako Sahakyan? "Yes, he is a key official," the unnamed source confirms.

Details are available in today’s issue of the newspaper.