YEREVAN. – Resignation of Karen Karapetyan, former Chief of Armenian Presidential Staff, was based solely upon his wish, ruling Republican Party’s MP Gagik Melikyan said during a press conference on Wednesday. 

In Melikyan’s words, Karen Karapetyan has been in politics for approximately 15 years, and no mystery or motive should be looked for in Karapetyan’s resignation.  “His resignation was noble, and, no matter how unexpected such resignation was, this is an accepted phenomenon in the civilized world,” Melikyan concluded. 

On September 9, Armenian President Serzh Sargsyan signed the order onKarapetyan’s dismissal from his capacity as Chief of Armenian Presidential Staff. This position is still vacant, and Vigen Sargsyan has been appointed acting Chief of Staff. 

Karen Karapetyan is the brother of well-known Russian-Armenian businessman Samvel Karapetyan. Between 2007 and 2008, he was head of the Republican Party’s Parliamentary Faction in the Armenian National Assembly, and, in September 2008, he was appointed Chief of Armenian Presidential Staff.