Azernews.Az

By Mushvig Mehdiyev

Reappointment of Sourik Khachatryan as governor of Armenia's Syunik region after his scandalous resignation in the summer of 2013 has triggered a massive disturbance in the region.

Residents of Syunik raised their voice of protest against Khacatryan's returning back to the administration. They blame the government for nestling the civil servants, who reportedly engaged in criminal activities. "We know Kachatryan very well. He was convicted for five times due to shameful crimes, and now, he is back to mayor post. That's a great shame," one of the Syunik residents said.

The official was embroiled in a deadly shooting incident occurred near his home in Goris, where Avetik Budagyan was deadly shot. Khachatryan's son Tigran was first detained with accusations of murdering the businessman, but later could escape criminal procedures due to widespread impunity in Armenia.

Khachatryan's reappointment as the mayor of Syunik region for the second term fueled anger of Naira Zohrabyan, Secretary of Prosperous Armenia fraction.

"His reappointment is a sonorous slap in the face of Armenian Republic and its citizens," Zohrabyan said.

Zohrabyan noted that she was shocked while hearing about Khachatryan's returning back to the mayor post. She believes that the government will hardly take care of protests of Syunik residents.

Member of Armenian parliament Vahe Hakobyan replaced Souren Khachatryan after his resignation on his own will. However, the latter did his best to put a spoke in new mayor's wheel by using his close relations with the country's leadership. As a result, Hakobyan was forced to resign to reopen the office for Khachatryan.

Emil Budagyan, father of Avetik Budagyan, who was murdered in Khachatryan's mansion, accused Prime Minister Hovik Abrahamyan of bringing Khachatryan back to office. "That's an open contempt to Armenian nation. Law is powerless in this country. Authorities do what they want like in caliphates," Budagyan noted.

Khacatryan's return to mayoral office affected the region's economy. Businessman Tigran Karapetyan decided to halt his investments in Goris, a village in Syunik, after ex-mayor's reappointment. "I stop all investment programs envisaged for Goris from now on. All programs will completely be cut down. There is no sense to continue anymore. That was the last straw," Karapetyan said.