Haik Marutyunyan to Depart: 'Hraparak'

According to the newspaper 'Hraparak', 'Former revolutionary Haik Marutyunyan, who was elevated by Nikol Pashinyan with great admiration and enthusiasm during the days of the revolution, was appointed to the high position of Mayor of Yerevan two months later. For more than a year, he has not been in contact with the Prime Minister, does not participate in cabinet meetings, and there is a deep animosity between him and the ruling team. If the situation of the authorities were not so critical, they would have initiated new elections for the Mayor of Yerevan and the Yerevan Council first, but at this stage, it is not possible.'

'An attempt was made to remove him before the snap elections; Pashinyan suggested he write a resignation letter and leave, but Marutyunyan resisted. Now, as the time has come for the team to work, the mayor has decided to wash his hands of the elections, not to participate in the campaign, and not to work for the authorities. We have learned that on June 7, the official start date of the election campaign, he plans to make a working visit to Rostov-on-Don. The order for the trip has not yet been published, but according to our sources in the mayor's office, the visit will last three or four days; it is noteworthy that the campaign will only last for 12 days.'

'One of the deputy mayors and representatives of the staff will accompany Marutyunyan on his trip to Rostov-on-Don. Meanwhile, council members do not seem to be included in the delegation. Four days of the trip, and he still has six or seven days left to figure something out until the elections conclude. However, in any case, Haik Marutyunyan's tenure will not last long—he will leave if Pashinyan's government is reelected, and he will also leave if it is not reelected.'