GYUMRI. – Just like every year, the yard of St. Amenaprkich (All Savior) Church of Armenia’s Gyumri city is full of people, ever since Wednesday morning—23rd anniversary of the Spitak Earthquake—as people visit the memorial to the quake’s victims.      

Also, wreathes from incumbent President Serzh Sargsyan and second President Robert Kocharyan are laid, before the memorial, alongside one another. 

In contrast to previous years, however, Gyumri did not host a great number of officials this year. PM Tigran Sargsyan arrived in the city, to pay his respects to the earthquake victims, but this time he was not accompanied by MPs and other Government representatives. Sargsyan placed flowers to the memorial and left. 

The number of guests arriving in Gyumri on this anniversary was never this fewer. And in response to Armenian News-NEWS.am correspondent’s query as to why, just like every year, not many MPs visited Gyumri this year as well, MP Sukias Avetisyan said this is because today is a work day and people are busy. 

To note, PM Tigran Sargsyan on Wednesday refused to respond to the questions by the journalists in Gyumri.