The March 16 social media post of Mesrop Arakelyan, a former member of the Arakelutyun (Mission) party and former labor minister in Nikol Pashinyan’s administration, prompted the resignation of his former teammate Hrachya Sargsyan as Yerevan mayor, a source familiar with the matter told Panorama.am.
Arakelyan called the attention of law enforcement authorities to the purchase of Chinese buses, alleging misuse of government funds worth $3,5 million.
The source told Panorama.am that the political decision on Hrachya Sargsyan’s resignation was made several weeks ago, "as despite numerous attempts, Sargsyan failed to persuade Nikol Pashinyan to nominate him as mayor of the Armenian capital instead of Tigran Avinyan". Hrachya Sarkisyan's team has not forgiven him for his attempts to conduct separate talks with Pashinyan.
Despite the political decision, Hrachya Sarkisian was in no hurry to announce his resignation.
On Thursday, Mesrop Arakelyan, in one way or another, was provided with data on the bus purchase deal and he disclosed it.
Crucially, Mesrop Arakelyan, Hrachya Sargsyan, as well as other influential officials of the Yerevan Municipality were friends who formally worked at VTB Bank and joined the City Council following a political agreement between the Mission and Civil Contract parties.
It turns out that the following ultimatum was issued to Hrachya Sargsyan through Mesrop Arakelyan, once a friend of the mayor, who was Pashinyan’s advisor and minister of labor and social issues: “Either you submit resignation now, or the law enforcement officers will simply take you away from the Municipality.”
Ara Sevunts