CHAIRMAN OF OPPOSITION PARTY SAYS FAREWELL TO POLITICS

Armenpress

YEREVAN, SEPTEMBER 20, ARMENPRESS: Hrant Khachatrian, chairman of
a small opposition party, called Constitutional Right Union (CRU),
has given up today the post of the party chairman after his deputy,
Hayk Babukhanian, refused to leave the party, at least for three
months, as demanded by Khachatrian, who said it is needed to improve
the atmosphere within the CRU.

Khachatrian issued his warning earlier this week saying if
Babukhanian ignores his demand he would say good by to politics for
ever. Hrant Khachatrian accuses Babukhanian, who is chief editor
of the well-selling weekly Iravunk, of pocketing around 3 million
drams. Khachatrian said he made the decision to abandon politics
today morning though his party fellows urged him strongly to think
better of it.

Khachatrian who was elected to current parliament on the slate of the
opposition Ardarutyun (Justice) party said he would not denounce his
lawmaker’s mandate.