YEREVAN. – Prosperous Armenia Party National Assembly (PAP NA) Faction member Murad Guloyan, who is also the in-law of PAP ex-Chairman Gagik Tsarukyan, is leaving the party, Guloyan himself told Armenian News-NEWS.am.

The deputy, however, will continue his activities within the PAP NA Faction, but as an independent MP, albeit he may also quit the faction in the future.

Guloyan noted that he has no problems with the newly elected PAP Chairperson, Naira Zohrabyan.

As for the PAP now working as an opposition political force, he simply responded: “We will see.”

To note, Murad Guloyan’s son Karapet Guloyan, who is the mayor of Abovyan city, had already announced about quitting the PAP.

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 then-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 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 issued a statement, on February 13, noting that the incumbent authorities must be removed from power immediately. In addition, he urged to achieve Serzh Sargsyan’s resignation by way of lawful political methods.

On February 17, however, Serzh Sargsyan and Gagik Tsarukyan held a brokered talk, and on the next day, the then-PAP leader issued a milder statement. He also called off the rally that was slated for February 20.

And on Thursday, March 5, Tsarukyan announced that he is quitting active politics, PAP National Assembly Faction Secretary Naira Zohrabyan was elected new leader of the Prosperous Armenia Party, and she declared the latter—which had been a non-pro-government force—an opposition party.