On September 29, in the Parliament, Nikol Pashinyan, an Armenian parliamentarian, member of the Armenian National Congress Faction, once again publicly accused Surik Khachatryan (nickname Liska), the reappointed Governor of Syunik region, of complicity in various heavy crimes.
"Yet a year ago in the parliament, I presented facts showing that Surik Khachatryan is complicit in the murder of businessman Avetik Budaghyan that was committed near his house in Goris. Furthermore, I presented the proofs that Prosecutor General Gevorg Kostanyan personally concealed those facts from the Investigation. In addition, mass media repeatedly reported other crimes committed by Khachatryan and his relatives. Now, a question to Parliament Speaker Galust Sahakyan: What the Republican Party sought for by re-appointing that criminal to the post of the Syunik Governor?" Pashinyan said. In response, Galust sahakyan asked Pashinyan to submit legal proofs of his accusations. "Otherwise, your statement will be an end in itself and populistic," Sahakyan said.
To recall, Khachatryan resigned from the post of the Syunik Governor following shootouts in front of his house on June 2 2013 when the former candidate for Goris mayor Avo Budaghyan was killed and his brother Artak Budaghyan, a commander at a military unit in the NKR was wounded. There was another wounded, Nikolay Arustamyan, a relative and bodyguard of Governor Suren Khachartyan. Syunik Governor Suren Khachatryan's son, Tigran Khachatryan, was arrested over the shootouts. Earlier, the governor's bodyguard Zarzand Nikoghosyan was arrested over the case. However, the Court terminated the case and set free the Governor's son and his friend.
The name of Khahcatryan and his relatives are mentioned in many criminal scandals, including, rape, kidnapping and beating. Nevertheless, Khachatryan was re-appointed to his previous position a few days ago.