Hraparak daily of Armenia writes as follows, in particular: The name of a new candidate for the [new] minister of justice has been circulating at the CC [i.e. the ruling Civil Contract Party and its parliamentary faction] since yesterday, which has ignited no less passions in the team than the candidacy of [majority faction MP] Arpi Davoyan. It is about Sisak Gabrielyan, the chairman of the NA [(National Assembly)] standing committee on education and science. He is one of the closest people of Hrachya Hakobyan, [PM] Nikol Pashinyan's brother-in-law; he has warm relations also with [businessman MP] Khachatur Sukiasyan.

We were told that especially Hrach is lobbying for Sisak's candidacy, and he could be nominated [for the aforesaid position] at the next meeting of the CC board. Especially since he has received a law degree from YSU [(Yerevan State University)] in 2021, had graduated from the [YSU] Faculty of Journalism in 2016.

At the same time, they are trying to convince also Vladimir Vardanyan [i.e. another MP of the ruling majority Civil Contract Faction and chairman of the Standing Committee on State and Legal Affairs of the NA] to (…) agree to move from the parliament to the government. A few days ago, at the meeting of the CC board, when [defense minister] Suren Papikyan nominated him [for the aforesaid position], Vardanyan conveyed to the CC leadership over the phone that he had no desire to become a minister.

[Majority faction MP] Heriknaz Tigranyan also has turned down the proposal. We were told that even [majority faction MP] Arusyak Julhakyan is saying no, so CC is left to rely on Arpi Davoyan, which made the CC desperate. Perhaps this is the reason why the search for new candidates has started.

By the way, the [CC] board has decided that this position should be headed by a CC member, which has made the selection even more difficult; not only is there not a normal lawyer at the CC, but also a person who has more or less experience and a biography and can lead any institution—not to mention a ministry.

By the way, we were told that the CC does not agree with that approach of the board; they say that there are a large number of good lawyers who are not CC members. The candidate for the [new justice] minister will be selected next Tuesday at the [CC] board meeting.