Syunik governor resigns

At the session today, the Armenian government accepted the resignation handed in by the Governor of Syunik province Surik Khachatrian.

There was a shootout outside the house of S. Khachatrian in the city of Goris at midnight of June 2. Former candidate for Goris mayor Avetik Budaghian was killed, while his brother, a military unit commander Artak Budaghian, was seriously wounded and hospitalized. The governor’s bodyguard Nikolai Abrahamian was also wounded.

The Syunik governor’s son Tigran Khachatrian and another bodyguard, Zarzand Nikoghosian, were arrested on suspicion of murder. They were charged under articles “murder” and “carrying of arms” of the Criminal Code.

The Investigation Service of Defense Ministry is investigating the criminal case.

The governor submitted his resignation on June 3. “I regret not having being able to prevent that tragic incident. An objective investigation will give answers to all the questions,” S. Khachatrian declared.

The spokesman for the Armenian president Arman Saghatelian said that President Serzh Sargsyan is convinced that an objective investigation will be conducted.

“The president has repeatedly stated about the inadmissibility of attempts to solve issues from a position of strength and the incontestability of the principle of equality before the law. The president is convinced that an objective and comprehensive investigation will be conducted and a due legal assessment will be given to the actions of all the persons involved in the incident,” Arman Saghatelian said.