YEREVAN. – Non-pro-government Prosperous Armenia Party National Assembly (PAP NA) Faction member Aragats Akhoyan on Monday submitted a formal request to quit the PAP.  

“At the moment, I consider it impermissible to participate in the processes the lead to such a domestic political tension (…).

“I should mention also that during the private talks with the leading PAP persons, I have repeatedly cautioned that if the party adopt a policy that will lead to apparent domestic political confrontations and create incompatibility with my social activities (…), I will have to stop my [political] party activities. 

“[But] I will continue my work in the National Assembly as an MP with no party affiliation,” Akhoyan’s respective statement specifically reads.

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 stated, 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 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.