At a weekly briefing in the Parliament of Armenia, Wednesday, oppositionist MP from Armenian National Congress Nikol Pashinyan asked the Prime Minister to give Surik Khachatryan, a certain citizen of Armenia a position in the Government.
"Khachatryan is a citizen of Armenia who has three convictions for various heavy crimes. Now, he is experiencing hard times and needs a job. Given the logic of your staff appointments, I'd ask you to give Khachatryan a position of a minister, deputy minister or, at least, a governor," Pashinyan said.
Hovik Abrahamyan, said, he will reply only after Pashinyan identifies that person.
"I have already introduced the biography of that man, he has a similar biography as Syunik region Governor Suren Khachatryan. Given the logic of your staff appointments, I have realized that this is your methods to 'correct' criminals and recidivists. Instead of serving their sentences in prison, they receive positions in the government and are being gradually 'corrected.' Look at Surik Khachatryan, he had three convictions for various heavy crimes, but became a PhD in History as soon as appointed Syunik Governor," Pashinyan said.
The prime minister categorically refused to employ any criminal at the government and recommended Pashinyan to do it, if he even becomes the prime minister.
As for Surik Abrahamyan's re-appointment as Syunik Governor, Abrahamyan said he adopted the decision after numerous requests and letters of the Syunik residents, NGOs and regional administration staffs. "I received numerous calls, letters, requests and proposals to reappoint Khachatryan. So, I could not but meet their requests," Abrahamyan said.
Khachatryan's reappointment sparked public protests in Syunik and then throughout the country. Regional businessmen and intellectuals are among the protesters.
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 Khachatryan 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.