YEREVAN. – Ruling Republican Party of Armenia National Assembly (RPA NA) Faction member Gagik Minasyan ruled out the possibility of President Serzh Sargsyan being ousted from power before the 2018 presidential election.

The reporters on Saturday asked the RPA MP whether Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan may carry out a regime change and Sargsyan be dismissed, as a result.

“Serzh Sargsyan will not be dismissed,” Minasyan responded.

As reported earlier, speaking at Thursday’s meeting of the board of RPA, President Serzh Sargsyan, who is also chairman of the RPA Board, had stated that PAP Chairman, MP and oligarch Gagik Tsarukyan the political player had become a vice for the country. He also relieved the PAP leader from his status as a National Security Council member, and promised that a process will begin in connection with Tsarukyan’s frequent absence from the NA sessions.

In response to President Sargsyan’s remarks, Gagik Tsarukyan on Friday stated 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 formally left this council earlier solely because of the President’s personal human 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 by way of lawful political methods.