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On 3 April, Prime Minister of the Republic of Armenia Nikol Pashinyan had a meeting with residents of the Arshaluys village of Armavir Province. The Prime Minister was heading towards Baghramyan Military School, and the residents had gathered near the road leading to the village and were waiting for Nikol Pashinyan.

The residents complained that upon suspension of the powers of village head Zarzand Grigoryan, his deputy Karen Simonyan was appointed acting village head. “We don’t want Zarzand Grigoryan or his deputy to serve as village head,” the villagers complained.

“It is important to understand what percentage of the population wants what because we can’t provide a solution and then find out that most of the people don’t want that solution, especially since this is not within the scope of activities of the government,” Nikol Pashinyan said.

The residents claimed that they are against deputy village head Karen Simonyan and won’t open the village council until a new acting village head is appointed. Pashinyan had a phone conversation and explained to the residents that the law doesn’t allow appointing an acting village head.

The Prime Minister stated that the government will be making amendments to the Law “On local self-governance” that will allow making the voices of the village residents heard. “We have to be guided by law, but the upcoming legislative amendments will allow you to make your voices heard,” the Prime Minister said.

Since last summer, the residents of Arshaluys village have been demanding the resignation of village head Zarzand Grigoryan, who is the nephew of General Manvel Grigoryan. After a criminal case was instituted against Zarzand Grigoryan and his powers were suspended, the villagers came out to the street to protest against the deputy village head. The villagers have been keeping the village council closed for the past two months now.

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