YEREVAN. – The former deputy police chief of the Republic of Armenia’s (RA) capital city of Yerevan, Artur Mehrabyan, won a Green Card and recently left for the US, Haykakan Zhamanak daily reported. 

“RA Chief of Police Vladimir Gasparyan had dismissed Mehrabyan from his position—upon his [respective] petition—just two weeks ago, on November 3, and sent [him] to the [Police] staff reserves.

“This staff change had remained unclear, since Mehrabyan was considered one of the best servants of the [Armenian] authorities.

“He particularly had caught the eye during the unlawfulness and violence against the opposition representatives in 2008 (…), and thereafter, during the protest actions the people had carried out on various issues of public resonance.

“The last time he caught the eye was on June 23 of this year, when he had cursed a woman while dispersing the protest demonstration against the rise in electricity [prices in the country], at Baghramyan Avenue [in Downtown Yerevan],” Haykakan Zhamanak wrote.