YEREVAN. – Zhoghovurd newspaper of the Republic of Armenia (RA) writes. The heads of the provincial offices of the Unified Social Services actively participate in the elections of local self-government bodies.

According to Zhoghovurd daily’s information, the heads of social services are not being nominated by the ruling Civil Contract [party], but by the Country to Live party whose founders are Mesrop Arakelyan and Mane Tandilyan, who previously were ministers of labor and social affairs.

[Serving] minister of labor and social affairs Narek Mkrtchyan, however, does not see anything disturbing and extraordinary in the above-mentioned nominations. In a conversation with Zhoghovurd daily, he noted that each and every RA citizen has the right to be nominated, to run in elections, and to be elected; in short, to express his political position.

It turns out that former ministers Mane Tandilyan and Mesrop Arakelyan, who are in opposition, criticize the authorities, are able to use the regional offices of the ministry of social security for their political purposes.