YEREVAN. – According to some information, Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan will attempt to assume the shadow administration of the non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP), Hraparak daily reported.
“Hovik Abrahamyan, staying in the RPA [i.e. the ruling Republican Party of Armenia], will have his ‘private’ [political] party in the PAP, which he will try to send to the [political] arena where it is convenient for him.
“In the [political] party redesign of the PAP, the fate of the enormous businesses of [PAP Chairman and oligarch] Gagik Tsarukyan [, who is expected to step down as PAP leader,] is more noteworthy. [Accordingly,] Gagik Tsarukyan will transfer his shares in the Ararat Cement factory to [ruling party MP and business tycoon] Samvel Aleksanyan, and Russia-based well-known [Armenian] businessman Samvel Karapetyan will purchase [Tsarukyan’s] Noy brandy factory, where the PAP Central Office is also located,” Hraparak wrote.
As reported earlier, speaking at the February 12 meeting of the ruling Republican Party of Armenia (RPA) Board, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also chairman of the RPA Board, had stated that PAP Chairman, MP and oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan had become a vice for the country as a political player. He also relieved the PAP leader from his status as a National Security Council (NSC) member, and promised that a process will begin in connection with Tsarukyan’s frequent absence from the parliament sessions.
In response to President Sargsyan’s remarks, Gagik Tsarukyan issued a statement, on February 13, that the incumbent authorities must be removed from power immediately. Reflecting on Sargsyan having him removed from the NSC, the PAP leader noted that he had not left this council earlier solely because of the President’s personal request. As for the plans to strip him of his parliamentary mandate, Tsarukyan said the important thing for him is the trust of the Armenian citizens, and therefore he possesses the most important mandate. In addition, the Prosperous Armenia Party chairman urged to achieve Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation, but by way of lawful political methods.
On February 17, however, Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik Tsarukyan held a brokered talk, and on the next day, the PAP leader issued a milder statement. He also called off the rally that was slated for February 20.
