YEREVAN. – By the decision of Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan, Prosperous Armenia Party (PAP) leader Gagik Tsarukyan has been relieved of his duties as Chairman of the Board of the Armenian State Institute of Physical Culture (ASIPC).PM’s press secretary Gohar Poghosyan told about the aforementioned to Armenian News-NEWS.am.

Deputy Minister of Sport and Youth Affairs, Arsen Karamyan, has replaced Tsarukyan as chairman of the ASIPC Board.

As reported earlier, speaking at Thursday’s 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 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.