YEREVAN. – Former deputy governor Ara Dolunts has been appointed acting governor of Syunik Region.

The press office of the Armenian government confirmed the reports for Armenian News-NEWS.am. He will hold the office until new governor is appointed.

His appointment came after resignation of Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan whose son was involved in a fatal shooting in Goris.

The incident will be discussed during the session of the ruling Republican party on Friday evening.

As Armenian News-NEWS.am informed earlier, shots were fired nearby Syunik Regional Governor Suren Khachatryan’s home in Goris city, on June 2 at around 12:10am, as a result of which one person was killed and two others sustained gunshot wounds and were taken to Goris hospital. The person who died was Avo Budaghyan, the former Goris mayoral candidate. The wounded are Budaghyan’s brother Artak, and Nikolay Abrahamyan, a relative and bodyguard of Khachatryan. Subsequently, the wounded were transferred to capital city Yerevan.

A criminal case is launched on charges of murder and illegal carrying, possession, and use of arms and ammunition, and the Military Prosecutor’s Office is conducting the investigation.

Two people are arrested in connection with this incident. One of them is the Syunik regional governor’s son, Tigran Khachatryan, 19, and the other is the governor’s bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosyan.   

Pursuant to his petition, Suren Khachatryan on Thursday was relieved of his duties as Governor of Syunik Region.